A New Parka

[Read Write Poem's prompt for us to use clothing to spark our poems sent my thoughts and fingers flying. This is one result.]



A New Parka

I haven't skied in two years,
but that doesn't keep me
from wanting a new parka.

I want to replace the boxy,
red jacket, with the black
trim - the only extra-large
sized one that fit, back
when I was skiing more.

The one that works just fine,
but there is a faint
dark stain on one side,
that I notice every time I wear it,
even though no one else does.

I want a purple jacket, feminine
but not girly. I want it to have
pit zips to keep me cool
as I fly down the hill in style.

I want to walk into a store and try
on dozens of jackets in my size,
discarding those I don't like on
the merits of color and zipper pull shapes.

Instead, I dread
trying on racks of black jackets
in sizes a little too small, or else
in men's sizes that swim in the
wrong places.

But I'm keeping my eyes open
for a purple jacket, feminine
but not girly.