American underneath
in Singapore I realize
the great raft of western goods
the currents shipping lanes trading routes
have pushed into this harbor
surely includes my favorite underwear
amazingly I easily secure one new
turquoise-grey-and-white striped pair
to offset the blue-and-green-polka-dot ones
that just this week succumbed to a small extra hole
victims of the rigors of handwashing and wringing
despite the changes in diet language attire greetings
for now
I’m blessed to keep
familiar underthings
