maelynslavik

a lesbian couple on my bus home from school 

a man in a punk battle jacket on the street 

my mother's female CEO group chat blowing up 

four of my teachers taking the following day off 

The shoes

The ones I got for Christmas in 8th grade

The shoes I wore every day 

Even when they started to rip

And were no longer new lookiing

The shoes I wore to every event 

I remember the day you picked me out,  
A shimmer on your wrist, young and proud.  
The world was bright; you were full of dreams,  
With laughter and plans bursting at the seams.  

One day 

I crocheted a hat

I don’t really know

Why

or 

When

But the hat became 

A constant companion.

When best friends of old

become polite passersby

still give them a smile and let your heart be full

for theirs are broken too

and need to be reminded to mend.