Green Dress

For tradition’s sake and for tradition alone,

I wear green today.

I can play along with tradition’s silly rules.

In truth, it’s fun to be a fanatic, go all out,

And fancy everyone else apathetic

As I apply my green eyeliner with a smirk.

(I even wear green underwear,

though no one will see it.

Now THAT’S dedication.)

I never wanted to be one of those people

who wore blue or brown or yellow,

it just doesn’t make sense—

why would you NOT wear green today?

But I don’t even know what St. Patrick’s Day is.

I start to wonder

Why do people wear green?

Why NOT blue or brown or yellow?

What are we even celebrating?

The year I was grieving too much to get dressed that day,

Someone asked me where my green was.

I felt oddly ashamed for breaking tradition.

It was the one time that I just didn’t care,

And someone called me out on it.

I know my friends have a right to keep me accountable,

But why?

I’m not even Irish.

I don’t know why we’re wearing green

Or why we’re drinking beer,

But I can go along with it.

I like playing the fanatic,

even though it’s meaningless--

I mean there’s really no other way to describe it, is there?

It's just silly, empty, meaningless tradition

if I can’t even tell you who St. Patrick is.

The only thing I know is that I’m supposed to wear green,

And lucky for me, I look damn good in my green dress.