It took me six months

To find sneakers that worked

Didn’t burn or squeeze or squash

Rebook, New balance, Stitcher

Nordstrom, and Converse

Widest possible

The black Nike with mesh

Came the closest to comfort

I can only walk with these gems

I won’t let them wear out

Replacing the pads saves my life

They support my daily 7500 steps

Comforting the toes, arches, heal

Quieting the hammer toe

Calusses and bunions

Reliable, resilient

Makes me a happy guy

Until they wear out

Because the 5-year expiration

Date is on the horizon