the sadness of clothes

this is the dress i

wore to my

grandfather's funeral;

black fringed silk veil

covering my hair;

black velvet belt

around my waist;

black suit fabric

swishing around my ankles;

black stray threads

creeping out of my neckline;

"do not sew

the lining to the dress";

i didn't read the fine print

before i hemmed;

my grandmother's eyes are

dry and heavy-lidded;

heavy fabric hangs off

an ever-shrinking frame;

black silk veil

is still too heavy on my hair.