Laces

[billy]

At seven, I tied my shoes
for the first time.
Other kids had long since
mastered shoe-tying. I was the last one
to make the knot first, then the bow.

At six, what I’d worn wasn't tied.
Two steel braces fastened to a cuff
above my knee, and were worn
even while sleeping. With each step
there was a metal click like a bone snapping the image feels real.
into place.

So, at seven, I had new shoes, not sure the so does anything
and I learned to run, and jump and play kickball-- i like the many and's here, they do add a sort of excitement
knot than bow, knot than bow. then and then
Sometimes, I tied them just for fun. great last line, it carries a lot of pride and satisfaction in it

~~~

i'd say very salvageable. my suggestions are just nits really. i had a small problem with the enjambment in the lower half of the first stanza and i thought the 2nd was exceptionally good. mainly because of the image it was strong. the poem didn't feel overly sentimental, it has an honesty to it that i enjoyed.

thanks for the read.