No Laces
his tiny shoe
white with a bit of grime
red & white accent stripes
no lace
dove white eyelets
rubber rims discolored
can’t keep all memories
keep a few toys
gigantic teddy bear
goofy Mortimer Snerd
Grumpy, the cranky dwarf
what can I do
with this wee sneaker
not worn for 42 years?
it’s only one shoe afterall
I remember him wearing it
in his baby swing
not yet walking, jabbering
no verbal contact since 2009
no laces to tie up
l’m searching for it’s match
***
Every year I get closer to the LexPoMo community. This year absolutely took the cake! Thanks to everyone for participating. I have read some great work. I have met new poets this year but I know I’ve missed a lot. I’m looking forward to meeting more poets next year.
It was my intention to write a Cento for you today featuring lines from some of my favorite LexPoMo poets but I was overwhelmed by the task. I will finish it in the next couple of days. If you want to to see it email me at lindab@bryanteditorial.com
20 thoughts on "No Laces"
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Linda,
This poem is beautiful with a dash of heartbreak. You capture those memories well, and I can actually see the tiny shoe! The poem also leaves us with hope as you search for the match.
It’s been wonderful to read your poems this month! I will be sending you an email. I’d love to read that Cento. Thank you for writing and sharing your poems.
It’s a wonderful poem, the absence of laces and the unseen match. Enjoyed your poems this month
❤️
Love the missing laces, the inability to tie everything up nicely. Loved reading this and all your other poems this month. Let’s keep on keepin’ on!
Linda – Your eye for details is superb, That “bit of grime” on the shoe – oh, my goodness! It’s been a pleasure to read your work again this year,
Such a tender, heartbreaking poem. I’ll be sending you an email to read your cento. I’ve so enjoyed reading your work this month. Thank you for sharing your beauty!
Your poem is a type of letting go but also offers the hope of finding what is lost, figuratively and literally. I love the details build to a powerful ending.
Linda, this is beautiful. I have such trouble throwing things away and have so much of my children’s clothing that my grandsons now wear . . . I,too, feel like I’ve gotten to know people even better this year than in past years. Just so much boldness and honesty in the writing. Take care!
The tiny shoe in Coleman’s poem shown here fully is amazing, especially his last line being the first here.
The tender detail in this poem is breathtaking “his tiny shoe
white with a bit of grime” and my heart breaks with grief
“no laces to tie up/l’m searching for it’s match”.
May you find that match.
Thank you for sharing your work and for being a part of the conversation about my work.
Just sent you an email. Look forward to reading your Cento when its ready!
Beautiful, Linda. It hurts my heart to read it, though.
I have so enjoyed your poetry, Linda, and am grateful for your careful reading and perceptive comments.
This poem is so engaging and heartwarming/breaking.
What a beautiful and vulnerable way to end the month. I will want to read everything you write, always.
Beautiful, and so sad. Your poetry, always so full of rich imagery— and care.
Expect an email from me! Thank you for your illuminating and exciting poems and for your community and well-wishes. I appreciate you!
So much pain in so few words. So well done.
Ditto to many comments. Your eye for detail in describing the parting of things that are more than just things is superb.
Dear Linda — I regret that other commitments have prevented me from reading your poems this month. I look forward to reading later in the summer. Thanks for commenting on my poems!
Tender, heartbreaking, and beautiful. Such fine craft. Your poetry taught me much this month and much more to learn. Thank you for your high-quality work and your comments. Walk with joy and happiness till we meet again
Your beautiful poem resonates with me very deeply. I have been so absorbed in dwindling things down currently with some time pressures–that it has made it hard to keep up with poetry writing and posting each day..But in my process .I too came across several white shoes that did not match and I too was looking for the mates to any of them, so I put them aside for now…but Then, what I wanted to tell you was that we went to a friends house last Saturday and she had 4 sets of toddler and child shoes sitting in a mandala pattern on a big round platter with battery tea lights inside and out all around them—and when I saw that–I thought–just go with the joyful /fun side of memories….so just sharing this long-winded aside in case it resonates…Back to poetry–I love your writing!