my shirt stopped growing
when it was eight
stubborn green waffle-knit double-ply poly
with hard white daisies crowded at the neck
it refused to make any more allowance
for my ten-year-old torso
but i kept it squeezing me
until i was twelve

so now as i fight
to keep you stretched
more resilient but less forgiving
tight around me
pretending that you actually do fit
i laugh at your resistance
knowing i can keep you about me
for quite some time