Childhood Shirts

Pull out the boxes,

and take out my youth.

Examine the wrinkles

in childhood shirts,

and try to find the memories

caught in the faded corners.

How I stretch out the moments

until the collar hung limp

around my neck

with all the weight of age.

I pluck off a light brown strand of hair

and twist it in my fingers

until it snaps and breaks.

I smile at the fragileness of my youth

and enjoy the strength in my memories.