I survived another day
With stretched sneaker laces,
The excess for tying,
Both left side and right,
Pulled tight,
Stretches to my knees,
So the double-knotted bow I tie
Has the wingspan of a pelican
And drags on the floor,
As if unknotted,
Awaiting the leg-iron crimp step
Of a stepped-on lace…
The tripping and falling…
And swearing to get
A replacement set
Before they stretch
To my thighs and beyond.