They sat ruined

in the backyard for weeks

covered in mud
the result of my son’s nocturnal roaming
thru the back bay

It was uneconomical 
a good pair of regulation
size 10 Vans
going to waste

I had worn out
many pairs
over the years

The blue suede ones
in high school
part of the uniform 

the red ones were that
I wore at the Cannery restaurant
my senior summer

I couldn’t let
them go to waste

it would be sacrilege 

First I soaked them
in a bucket
for days

but

they would never be
snow white again

although the laces came out nicely

I am a sloppy
coffee drinker
and I know
it stains
stains good

so
DIY
I used a half pound
of the weird espresso
to stain them
a nice
mocha

after a week in the bucket
no change!

They were
the shoes
that wouldn’t
DYE !!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween

May whatever is left in the candy bowl

be something you like