Once There was a Shirt

Once there was a beautiful red shirt. 

It was worn by a very special child,

sent to her by her grandmother in China.

She wore it every chance she could.

It was so pretty with her long black hair.

She wore it so often, some of the fasteners fell off.

And the seams began to fray.

And soon it was too small.

Her mother gave it to a second hand shop,

hoping another child could wear it again.

Another child with dark brown hair

and big brown eyes

wore it to play dress-up.

Until it was too small.

And the seams were a little more frayed.

The red fabric with cherry blossoms

was so pretty.

It was hard to throw away.

So her mother took the shirt apart, 

and gave it new life:

in a journal

with a new toggle fastener,

and some pretty reusable gift bags.