Purchase

I bought two “ruched cotton,

laced and cheeky”

four-packs of my favorite panties,
so I guess I am feeling hopeful

about my upcoming

heart surgery.

I love how the vertical ruching line
follows the curve of my crack

in luxurious vanilla tulle lace
with dandelion-dragonfly design,

as if below my waist

were a meadow

with no hint
on the delicate cotton of roots and dirt,

an afterlife or a frightening underworld.

The panties arrived by mail,

flat and overlapping on blue
cardboard like four open-winged birds

on a rectangle of sky.

After the surgery is done, I’ll
untie my hospital gown

and slip on the pair of purple ones
before heading back home in our car

with my husband
to feed the dog.