01 October 2025

Shoes

Dad doesn't wear 
His shoes. 
Weak knees- 
He fell off a couple 
Of times.
Afraid of wearing 
Them now.

But he polishes 
Every morning and 
Slides them under 
The cot, like it's a salute 
To his body that 
Doesn't obey.

Dreams of running 
With the shoes on 
But the reality of
Every morning is
A defeat of limping 
In the house.

This struggle-
Past borders, 
Past medals,
Past time itself to
Cope with the new
Reality-

The battlefield now
Is the hallway,
And victory is simply
Not falling.