This Sweater

I got this sweater forever ago Intricate knitted masterpiece finished with a bow I slipped it on right away Perfection: The way it looked, the way it’d lay Its sleeve cradled a goosebumped arm As I wore it when sledding to keep me warm It accompanied me to a park with a friend That's when I saw this sweater’s frayed end Through years of playing, fighting, and fun My sweater acquired grime and was bleached by the sun Resembling wet grass on a soccer field Ripped all over, seams revealed It’s impossibly ugly, this sweater But I wear it each week, no matter the weather The dust is from when I climbed that hill Scattered with rocks, that’s beauty made time stand still This lint flew on when my mind was blown This paint is from learning about color tone The hole to my left is from a beach va-cay The damage won’t stop me from wearing it every day Every smudge, smir, splate, stain Holds my memories, laughter, joy, and pain