my mother ironed my school shirts
white blouses that go with plaid skirts
and tucked her love in the pockets
now I’m the mother who irons rarely
trying to raise my kids so fairly
making sure to buy clothes with extra pockets
and when the day is ending
and I am missing or feel I’m fending
I treasure what I find in the laundry pockets
so now I am collecting
what others think is for rejecting
the lining of your work pants’ pockets