you were only one of many

it was just a shirt

but the first of many

i’d buy

from that particular

label

over the last eight years

it had a certain

minimal style and grace

something their more recent

products

have lacked

with their garish mish-mash

of colors and shapes

(though i did find one

old-style shirt recenly –

tellingly, i found it at

their seconds store)

so when we grabbed

our six bags of old clothes

to throw in our aunty’s car

i paused when i saw it

and pulled it out:

saved,

for another few years.