Today’s prompt on Ethical ELA is to write a poem based on a t-shirt we own. The prompt invites writers to explore the message, the occasion or travel in which we received the shirt. As I thought about this prompt, I was reminded of so many things. My husband’s side of the family have reunions and will create their own humorous family sayings. I have to hunt one of those down today. Lately, I’ve noticed bars and restaurants have jerseys hanging high on walls as either a memorial for a lost loved one or in memory of past sporting days. T-shirts really are a significant cultural item, and I’m excited to try to find some of my favorite t-shirts tucked away in drawers, closets, or the cedar chest. It will be like a great treasure hunt of memories. When I’m feeling particularly down, I’ll go to a drawer and pull out one of Alex’s t-shirts and wear it. It just makes me feel closer to him.

One of my all-time favorite t-shirts was created especially for me. Right??? It was when I was probably about 19 or 20. A local artist was doing a window painting for a bar I worked at. We clicked and he made me one where I am Merlin from The Once and Future King character. It’s tan and beautiful. I’ll never be able to wear it again. It’s more like a hanky…oh, the joy of getting older and fat.

I spent the day rummaging around, looking for that specific t-shirt, and I’m sure I would have never thrown it away, but I couldn’t find it. I did find the following t-shirt that was done by the same artist. Werni’s Tap was a favorite hangout of mind. I used to work there for a short time as well as a few other bars when I was going to college. In the t-shirt, you’ll see Jim’s self-portrait on the left, a guy that worked there but I cannot remember his name. On the right is Werni. I remember him making fun of my ability to shoot pool. My skills did improve and I’ve always wanted a pool table of my own, but I don’t shoot pool very often anymore. Just like I don’t work at bars anymore either.

As I searched for t-shirts, I recalled so many memories from IHSSA Speech contests, NHD contests, to my sons’ ball teams, to my own stage performances, my favorite artists and distant travels, and the saddest kind of t-shirt, the ones you buy to help support a particular cause. Truly t-shirts are an amazing window into memories. So let this Tuesday be a “Salute to t-shirts!”

Today’s poetry response:

I remember

shooting pool; looking cool

sipping beer at Werni’s

meeting Jim

who painted the bar’s window

and a magical t

just for me

the Wizard of Werni’s