You support my high arches,
cushion them,
pad toe and heels
against the concrete streets.
You’re easy to slip on and
kick off.
In you, I walk steadily through the vicissitudes
of the day—the upsets and little victories,
the tar, potholes and pavements of NYC.
You’re the faithful
servant of my feet.
Praise you for supporting me in my kitchen,
cutting garlic for a chicken sautee.
Out on a rendezvous with friends in the park,
when I run around delighted,
chasing my unleashed
speed demon of a dog.
Let my devotion to these inky black sneakers
unfurl like a flag.
Let my feet rejoice. Housed
by this stellar pair,
I have the itch
to dance!
Let me use the casing to tap:
Toe, heel, toe with my right;
Toe, heel, toe with my left.
Rapping, rocking, digging,
I transfer my weight from one shoe
to the other. As a finale, I start
on my left foot, jump and twist
in the air and come down on my right
in a tour jeté. I take a bow to my
imaginary audience. Praise be my
my Capezio dance sneakers.
Kim Bendheim 