Love Like a Sweater

Love Like a Sweater by Odin Roark The aged veteran sits idly Upon rocker and barren porch Remembering Unlike a space suit Its every fiber fit By rigid standard Unlike the starched khaki shirt Its extremities forged firm as armor Its pleats kept at attention Unlike the dress blues Symbolic of authority and command Unyielding in its façade of glory The sweater Like love Molds to behavior Forever willing to comfort the flesh And bring warmth to the heart As passion's woven threads Assimilate the wearer's hardships Fear of frayed ends disappear Accepting entwined living Is not without accident and wear Affection asks little in return Needing only to be spared The folding into a drawer Of forgotten memories Given care The patience of love Remains forever dedicated Embracing any and all it touches And like the tattered loyal sweater Judges not the body But dutifully complies Abiding the ever shrinking collapse Of life fully lived The veteran rocks slowly to sleep His sweater held close