In Defense of My Black Shoes

Originally published on September 14th, 2019

These shoes, which are torn at the sides.
These shoes, which show my little pinky toes.
These shoes, which are scuffed and scratched and bruised.

They have been there for it all.
Musical rehearsals, and the first time I drove out of a neighborhood. 
The first time I rode a bike, and while on stage for my first college play. 

These shoes, with their strings that have come loose. 
These shoes, with their holes and tears.
These shoes, with my memories and heartbreaks and dreams attached.

They are too loved to be worn anymore.
They are too scuffed and scratched and bruised to continue forward.
They are too full of a past to go further into the future.

There is a reason they are so worn out. 
They carried me through the hard things, 
They were there in preparing me for the future.

So thank you, my black shoes,
For the scuffs and scratches and bruises,
Thank for carrying the memories, and heartbreaks, and dreams.