Twenty dollars
Crisp an hour ago
Limp from my sweaty fretful hand
The hand that cannot choose
Will not let them go
Until
Where are they?
Yes there thank you
My dreams
Man-made sole and upper
Gen-u-ine white rubber
Purple canvas
Step right up
Just twenty dollars
For you nineteen ninety-nine
To run with those shoes
Hear them slap on my dusty pavement
Make my feet beautiful
Well, are you going to try them on?
The envious crowds
I wish I had shoes like her
Hurry up now please
We don't have all day
Wait
The dusty pavement
My shoes
My new shoes
Not shiny anymore just
Scuffed ratty
With faded purple canvas
Scratched bottom
Worn sole
Next week they won't be
New shoes
Are you going to buy or not?
The shoes ask
Petulantly
You won't stay white forever
I tell them
And I already have a pair
They're good
I guess
Besides
It's a waste
Really
I shake my head at
The gen-u-ine white rubber
Then the twenty dollars
Are back in my pocket
Where they belong