Bloomers

BLOOMERS by Meredith Heller ©2025

     Yuba River, Nevada City, CA

I washed each pair

with Dr Bronner’s

lavender castile soap

in a bucket

with river water.

I scrubbed

I swished

I made sure

there were lots

of bubbles.

I rinsed their thin skins

thoroughly wringing out

the old ghosts

from their cotton crotches

and lace trim.

I hung each frillery

on a length of string

I’d strung between two trees

bordering my campsite.

Each pair draped gingerly

over the line–

purple lace boy shorts

tiger-striped bikini

black & white tie-dye hipster

hot pink thong.

I have to admit,

they were beautiful creatures,

each one dangling there

swinging its legs

nickering its own little story

after having nestled

my most intimate parts.

I sit on the big rock

to admire my clean tribe

of dainties with a smile

on my face, and I think,

now this is my kind

of prayer flag.

Panty prayers

wind scribbling

dream flowers

across satin petals.

Incantations stained

into silken skin

my signature

inscribed in sighs.

The elements eating

away their karma

rejoicing their secrets

and their sins.