A History of my Poem "Old Shirt"

A History of my Poem “Old Shirt”

The shirt in this poem originally was owned by Rick McIntosh.

About 12 years ago his wife Debby cleaned out his closet of clothes

he hadn't worn for a long time. She offered the shirt to me. It quickly
became one of my favorites. As the poems says recently
it became damaged enough that it wasn't even worth
donating to a thrift shop. After reading the poem,
 poet/artist Sue Clark and poet/artist June Calender, 

both asked for the shirt to use in making art projects.

Additionally June wrote a follow up poem about the shirt
and my poem.

Following is my poem about the shirt,

following that is June's poem.

Old Shirt

I like the old shirt,

but its time has past.

Buttons are missing,

there are small rips here and there,

the fabric now is thin and

my elbow pokes through.

I like the way this garment fits,

I like the pattern and colors,

I like the comments people

make about the outfit.

I have other garb,

some, with agreeable patterns,

that fit me fine. Now it's time

for another to be favored.

It's time for this one to go.

I won't be happy cutting it

into rags nor putting it out

with next week's trash.

But it is time to let go.

Jack DiBenedetto

Old Clothes

by June Calender

Don't we all have ancient garments we love—

the ones we change into after a busy day

when we come home to relax?

My soft moccasins with indestructible

plastic soles have barely any shape after

many many years. Wearing them I see

the dinky shoe outlet store in Batesville,

Indiana, known for its casket factory.

Batesville also has a small hospital.

I had seen my mother; it would be the last

time. I needed something else to think about.

I bought bright pink suede slip-ons.

Old clothes tell stories. When Jack

blogged he hated to give up an old shirt,

much washed, much faded, he thought he

might toss it in the trash. His photo showed

lovely pale colors. I wrote, “No. Don’t.

Let me make something for you.” Sue,

shared my feeling. We have reincarnated

his shirt. She in fiber art, I quilted a cover

for a small pillow.

Garments and their owners grow old,

worn, softened, faded, tired.

Even when still loved some are

dumped in the garbage,

given to the thrift shop,

stashed in assisted living,

bedded in the nursing home

until a casket becomes the repository.

Art pieces from old shirt.

Fabric art created by Sue Clark from the old shirt.  This photo was taken at the Falmouth Arts Center where the piece was hung in the Main Gallery.

Sue made a copy of my poem and put it on a piece of the shirt.



A throw pillow made by June Calender, side A.


Side B