born in a in poetry

really I am surprised a store
with as unflattering a name as
DRESS BARN survived THIS long
got THIS far, lived out its life
only went under in mid-2019

can you imagine naming a store
as inelegantly as all of that today?
would anyone peruse THE BRA STY?
would you shop at the PANTS TOILET?
JIM’S FAT CLOTHES FOR PORCINE FAT PEOPLE?

THE DRESS BARN, holy shit
THE SOCK SCOW
THE PANTIES PILE
THE TEE-SHIRT LANDFILL
THE SHOE DUMP
THE DRESS BARN, holy shit
how were we ever
once so innocent
as that?

Last updated May 22, 2019