RIIIIP, they rasped,
A raucous sound, a rattling gasp
But what a relief
Because they hugged me--
My shoes:
They used to have Velcro,
Simple, sound, safe.

My shoes
Not velvet, nor suede,
Leather or the like
Just perfectly plastic
With blue stripes
And broken soles
That bore holes
Where I stepped.

Now I have laces,
Lanky lengths, lethargic strings
They lazily link
Crossing, confused, careless.
They say things get complicated
As we grow up,
But why do my shoes have to
Too?