Tennis Shoes

The shoes were a Christmas present from my parents

high school spirit green; the

perfectly preppy piece of every

Outfit; dark jeans fitted like a glove

Carefully creamy soles padded

Down school halls, a princely waltz

My smile had ruling power there,

My sparkling eyes made every call.

Perfect shoes that held me steady when

my first love’s lips puckered

and tapped the carpet outside my parents room after

the nights    I    lived    for

Seattle now

And these shoes have seen more sidewalk than padded, carpet floor

Rain and snow wore themselves into blisters on my feet

5 times, each a week, I couldn’t walk.

I hobbled. Black spot on my foot after

a long shift at work

Wet socks inside these shoes now,

Not cute ones like before

I tie the greying laces, I have no choice anymore

No line of soft new shoppings haul

Every color and style to match

My money stretches not at all,

Barely covering the rent on this tiny hall

Ten months ago together, though a millennium it feels,

These shoes and I set out to walk an uncharted course

To change the world and become be that perfect girl

But there are holes in the soles of my shoes now

      there are holes in the souls of my shoes