These Four Walls

shoes

my shoes

vans bought from goodwill

for way less than they would be

in the mall store  

with strawberry shoelaces that

are a bit too short

but effectively turn the shoes into

slip-offs

leave pine needles and dirt on the

old gray bus seat where my feet rested

as i read

head back against the window

skull knocking along with the bumps in the road

losing myself in someone else's fictional life

as i stand to leave

i brush them off with a shaky hand

watching as they land on the floor

and brush the seat once more for good measure

wondering how many other pieces of myself

i have left behind me