my shoes
vans bought from goodwill
for way less than they would be
in the mall store
with strawberry shoelaces that
are a bit too short
but effectively turn the shoes into
slip-offs
leave pine needles and dirt on the
old gray bus seat where my feet rested
as i read
head back against the window
skull knocking along with the bumps in the road
losing myself in someone else’s fictional life
as i stand to leave
i brush them off with a shaky hand
watching as they land on the floor
and brush the seat once more for good measure
wondering how many other pieces of myself
i have left behind me