“The Fury of Overshoes”
They hang in the cubbies,
outside the classroom,
one to every child despite their differences,
all with a hood.
Remember when you couldn’t put on your
raincoat
or button your own
shirt
or pour your own glass of milk
and tantrums
being thrown like rocks into the ocean
when you lost a game of
hide and seek?
Remember, little league,
When you couldn’t hit the ball
and were replaced
by a bigger and stronger kid?
You had control of nothing.
The world was a miniscule star in the sky.
A place only taller people could reach.
If you touched
other boys or girls
you would get the
cooties.
They made you pack up
your blanket
and your favorite teenage mutant ninja turtles shirt
and your sense of security.
Oh raincoat,
don’t you
remember me,
walking with you
in the pouring rain?
Oh blanket,
I need you for cover,
it is cold,
where is that star,
when will I reach it,
growing inch by inch
day by day,
and not relishing any of it?