My 90 year-old mother said to me
(she’s really 93, but that’s too much
for meter), that she’d like her bed to be
equipped with linens softer to the touch.
“I have two sets of sheets. But I’m not keen
on one of them. I purchased them on sale.
They work, but maybe I’d prefer sateen
to wrinkle-free unduly hard percale.”

I started channeling my closest friend,
a shopping pro who advocates self-care.
“Your life’s too short to settle. Don’t contend
with lesser cloth. You’ve earned a perfect pair
of sheets. Your comfort’s worth it: never doubt.
Now give away the bad, or throw them out.”