Clothes of the Heart

Clothes of the Heart

Yong Wan Choi (09-02-06)

I dressed my idle heart in clothes and went out

It was clumsy in shape, the colors didn't match
a button fell off, the belt sagged low
opinions picking it apart, meaning kindly to mend it
should I take offense, or smile as though pleased,
should I bear it and learn—fretting, until at last
I came home and, while I was at it, flung it all off
and stood naked before the mirror

My heart turned around as if to say, look
the clothes hanging on their hangers, waiting—
for sport, birthdays, weddings, funerals—
I took them all out and tried them on, then went out alone
dressed in cloud, wind, moon, and shade,
humming, to go and see the flowers