They said the shoes

don’t fit—

my shoes, too small

for their feet

a size or two too big

I should have

stretched them out

as far as my last pay

could go. Held off

until they could taste salt

only salt for dinner

or better yet, cry

until my tears could coax

their eyes to flow.

Had I suffered

enough, I might have

softened even a boot

and they’d put their feet in

and it would be

a better fit.