Hearing It for the First Time

Black raincoat forgotten on the desk;

Suddenly bright June flowers, vivid by the path back home.

The curtains he pulled closed against the day;

Gothic-arched sofa; his hands checking the damage.

Back in the classroom – how do we know

What we think we know?  That shirt –

Red and blue stripes gloriously present.

Was there ever in the world such a beautiful shirt?