Ode to My Floral Shirt

Dearest floral shirt, douse me. Flowers, leaves, adorn my torso.

Flavors. Paradise armor, soft, silky, flowing. Show me ocean

breeze. Navy. Green. Yet I trap you in my closet between button-

ups. Hang for eight months. The other four months schedule you,

 

to meet me once every other week. You’re mighty, they cannot

handle u more than a few times every cycle. Such patience in the

dark, but worth the wait. You’re out on the brightest days. Go,

outshine the sun with ur pink hibiscus and banana-yellow azaleas.

 

Lay upon my chest, petals curl against my skin. Tropical gardens,

light seas. Grandfather saw u on clearance one day. He said if I

ever wore that, he’d light it on fire. But he didn’t know I already

had you. He’ll never get to see u and I together. He’ll never get to see me.

 

U draping me, a personality, my personality. Welcome me.

Compliment me, u watercolor masterpiece. You don’t judge or

apologize for flamboyancy or making others stare. Entertain ‘til it’s

time to go home. If only that were me. I’d be a part. We’d be a team.

 

I wish we saw each other more often. We make good friends, u see.

Valiant your efforts prove to be, wearing me. Maybe one day, we’ll

survive sharks. We braved storms by the water. Been in the sand as I

brush off my knees. Out on the kayak, over the deep. Been overseas.

 

Met people. When they see u, they remember thee. They remember

me. I’ll be like u, one day. Unapologetic, bold, bright, beaming,

butterflies, flowers, sunlight. I hope I’d be able to come outside all

twelve months of the year. Presently, I find good reason to wear thee.