I really now miss those old pair of shoes
although I had others from which to choose;
we would both be seen as a handsome pair
and they were the shoes I preferred to wear.

We'd mostly walk about each day in two's
and liked nothing to ever hide our views;
they were always so willing to comply
without any questions of how or why?

Once or twice I also had them repaired
as those old shoes became a bit impaired;
together with a good polish and shine
they would both look like new again in time.

I often wondered how long they would last
going by some others had in the past;
it seemed that at least for a good while yet
they would never cause me to feel regret.

Though it was so unexpected one day
they'd been left somewhere and taken away;
I didn’t recognize it at that time
but they were the object of someone’s crime!

I now recall that day with a sad heart
due to circumstances right from the start;
how I'd put them on and gone for a walk
then see people look and begin to talk.

It never occurred to me some would steal
the things covering each foot’s sole and heel;
there must be some people in this world who
are jealous of what shoes you're wearing too!
-------------------------------------------------

in first grade
i had my first crush
on a boy
who told me
that i was annoying
and to leave him alone

in second grade
i pretended to be a witch
and my friends
cast spells
and rode invisible brooms

in third grade
i lost a spelling bee
because i misspelled
the word cotton

in fourth grade
i started my first diet
because my sister
made fun of my baby fat

in fifth grade
i had to get an appendectomy
and when i came back
people remembered me
only because i was gone

in sixth grade
I started skipping lunch
to go to the library
and sit in the bathroom
and cry
until class started

in seventh grade
i pulled apart a shaving razor
and sliced the inside of my wrist
and hid the small line
with a bracelet
made of denim

in eighth grade
i cut all my hair off
with safety scissors
and i learned
that no one will date me
and that my lips will never be kissed

in the ninth grade
i smoked
and wrote
and stopped talking
because no one wanted
to know that i existed

and i don't
think i will make it
to tenth grade

Gabriel,
have we not set sail upon this ship once before?
And did it not sink at the sight of a storm?

*Lillian,
we built that ship in arms,
and when we sank,
we sank together.
Our wood was fragile and water torn,
but I've come baring steal.