He would have had four pairs
of bowling shoes this Christmas: one
from his mother, one from his aunt, two
from the troops of friends he bowled with weekly
in both cities where he lived
last year, the last
in both cities where he lived
last year, the last
he lived. And would have worn each pair—
each shoe alone a long oval
asymmetry the other shoe
each shoe alone a long oval
asymmetry the other shoe
undid—with denim pants
and denim shirt the years of sweat and sunlight
had worn soft. He’d bowl a spare
and denim shirt the years of sweat and sunlight
had worn soft. He’d bowl a spare
