Disability One

The occupational therapist

Realized there was no way you could

Lace up your right boot. I’ll be right back,

She said, returning with white laces.

These you only have to lace up once,

And then the elastic holds the knot.

Your left shoe kept its plain black laces.

You were discharged from the hospital

And, for nine months, couldn’t be bothered

To change the white elastic laces,

Going everywhere, one boot laced black,

One boot laced white. Couldn’t be bothered.

When the white lace broke, you replaced it

At last, with an elastic black lace,

A matching lace for the other shoe.