i have things
    that used to be white.

truly white fabric
         is a stunning rarity

it catches your eye
it makes you feel
bright and clean
everyone's skin looks
beautiful in white

but nothing stays white
no matter how long
i soak things
they don't
return
to
a
pure
state of whiteness

imagine my dismay
to see a new product
fail to ******
up the
things that take
the white away

it's upsetting

but what of it?
why do i keep trying
to make things white?

maybe things can
only be white
for those first few minutes
of prismatic glory

and that's that.