R.T. Sedgewick: Poem

In the folds

of two white cotton tee shirts
v-necks centered
and still perfectly stacked
on the corner of your dresser
which I pass 
each time I leave 
or enter our bedroom
is a message to me
of your love
and devotion
which I cannot bear
to destroy
by dumping them
into my crumpled-up
underwear drawer
even though it's been 
almost twenty years
since that morning I came in 
from emptying the trash
and found you silent 
and clutching 
your cloth angel
I felt like the town square 
that Sunday morning
they burned flags and books 
without ceremony
as I waded waist-deep 
into grief and sorrow 
while you turned into
one of God's rainbows 
and knowing 
that I'm color blind 
left me this message 
of love in pure white