Laceless Shoes

When I was a kid of maybe six
And I put on my favorite kicks
I had a problem a kid faces
I couldn’t tie my own shoelaces
And with four kids, Mom’s precious time
Could not all be spent on mine
She had to find another way
To keep me in my shoes each day
And tennis shoes were not allowed
In a Catholic school crowd
So shoes for school and Sunday best
Had to pass Mom’s laceless test
A penny loafer wouldn’t fit
I’d walk and slip right out of it
Elastic laces she couldn’t get
And Velcro’s not invented yet
She searched and found this shoe with tongue
That opened like a spring was sprung
And once you slipped your foot inside
Unsprung the tongue – you’re good as tied
And I didn’t have a handicap
When I took off my shoes to nap
I just had to flip that flap
Slip in my foot – close with a snap
I thought my gadget shoes “the bomb”
And I never had to bother mom
I wonder if they make these still
For little boys who lack the skill
Who every morning he still faces
Fumbling with his long shoe laces
Or could a guy like me get rich
Reinventing for this niche
And saving Mom’s their precious time
Like these shoes once did for mine
Mdailey	6/20/11

You probably have to be a man of at least 60 years old to remember these shoes.  
They were black leather with a wide flat tongue that was hinged at the toe like the 
hood of a 60? XKE ( my dream car as a teen).  There was a spring of some sort at 
that hinge so that when the tongue was lowered, the shoe was tight.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Greenlee Avatar
June 20, 2011 at 8:35 AM
I believe all little boys have trouble with shoe laces when they are young.And still as an adult.Great job with this message in this poem.Have a great day love....
Macmillan Avatar
June 20, 2011 at 8:14 AM
Mike, liked the poem and the shoe. I am a mom...and those shoes sound like, excuse the pun, a perfect fit! I wonder if they do still have them. You know what I want? One of those ironing boards that folded down into a chair and also there was a fold up stepping stool. I thought it would be a perfect upgrade from a highchair--monkey-girl could step up on her own and it would be a good height. When I went to an antique shop, they didn't know what it is called... Do you remember those too? :)Cyndi
Dailey Avatar
June 20, 2011 at 10:41 AM
My mom wasn't much into ironing so I don't remenber what she used but I do remember the stepping stool that could also be flipped up and used as a chair. I can't believe they don't still make them.
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