The quickmud in Pelham Bay Park wasn’t that high
but it sucked up my shoes pretty quickly
and they didn’t get out of there alive.
I had to leave the park in my socks
and I swore to the shoes,
“I’ll come back for you, Sambas!”

I think they knew I was lying,
for they said nothing in response.

I never saw them again
and the next pair I bought never said a word to me
about their predecessors
or anything else,
for that matter.

It’s just as well.
I don’t know
if I was in a good place
to handle my grief
at the time
but now
the shoe’s on the other foot.