I saw them
and I knew—
mine
my shoes
they looked like me
(the me I knew)
mine
Shaq shoes
black
white
stripes with blends
between the two
for boys!
others seemed to know
for me.
i knew (inside)
my mouth
stayed silent still
lips in line
as i climbed
to hide atop
monkey bars outside.
i wanted to
look down
to see my shoes
dangling
beautifully
but underneath
they huddled. loud.
for boys!
not girls
like you.

Kaity Johnson

 

Kaity Johnson is a writer and activist living in Atlanta, Georgia. When she’s not busy attempting to raise her two daughters into kind human beings, she’s usually downing coffee or obsessing over trees somewhere outside.

© 2019