pockets are not just ornamental
nor something to make jokes about
like the guy who wears a plastic
pocket protector for his pens
give me a soft flannel shirt
with two breast pockets
two side pockets and two
hidden secret pockets
places to hold memories
in the guise of old tissues
unused but folded precisely
a small black comb, his
pajamas with pockets always
seem to come out of the laundry
inside out, looking like ears
the pants anyway, not the tops
coats with deep pockets can
carry a water bottle, a wallet
a grocery list and pen to
cross off items as you shop
there's a fine line between
frustration and functionality
or rather a great divide as
pockets replace my purses
in purses, everything gets
jumbled, multiplied, lost
whereas with pockets one learns
to mentally organize for the least
amount of confusion, for efficiency
so pockets win, hands down, or
hands in when it's cold or
raining when the best rain coat
is always full of more pockets
than you need so you can add
snacks, vitamins, letters to
be mailed, small gifts, paper clips
or other necessary tools or
products that make life on the go
easier, scissors, duct tape,
band-aids and eyeglasses
so throw out your pocketless
clothing or donate them to
people who just need to be warm or
add pockets with needle and thread
go to a tailor and ask for
more and more pockets on your
existing wardrobe, you'll most
likely feel oddly better
a bit brighter, and you will
be happier, I guarantee, and
isn't that what in our hearts
we all dream of every day?