White Sneakers

The box lid opened

I lay there in wonder

What the hell am I doing

I should be six feet under

They didn’t listen

When I said no funeral

They dressed me up

Put me on display

Now here I lay

Looking at my feet

Trying not to see

The people

Peering in at me

Why didn’t they come see me

When I was alive

Even if it was

A very long drive

Nope, I can’t do this

Too many faces

Too many years

Too many tears

Wasted

I will focus on my feet

Who the hell picked my shoes

I would rather see my toes

White sneakers

The worst color

They’ll be dirty way too soon

One good thing that I see

No laces

That suits me

I wonder what will happen

If i just get up and go

How will any of these people

Ever even know

Come on sneakers

It’s time to go

It’s a weird thing

To see yourself

Lying in a coffin

Your loved ones gathered in one place

This doesn’t happen often

A twinge of anger

Or is it regret

As I drift upward

And try to forget

Wait

Upward

That’s good right

Come on sneakers

Let’s go toward the light

The light seems to be fading

We’ve got to run fast

I understand why I’ve got on

White sneakers at last

Run sneakers run

Let nothing get in our way

Hurry up sneakers

We get to see God today

E.A. Fussell

3/16/2019

(Poetry exercise, topic: sneakers)