The Soles of My Childhood// poem by Ally Ortiz

The Soles of My Childhood

I’ve got black shoes with purple laces.

I’ve got purple cuts and black bruises 
across my knees,
and black shoes with purple laces. 

I’ve got two black gaps
where I used to have teeth,
and black shoes with purple laces.  

I’ve got purple jelly 
smeared across my face,
and black shoes with purple laces.  

I’ve got purple laces with black shoes,
and black shoes with purple laces. 

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Ally Ortiz is a writer born and raised on Long Island. She’s been a lifelong student of the arts, writing poetry, short stories, and autobiographical pieces along with her interests in drawing and photography. She is currently pursuing her degree in education at SUNY New Paltz (NY) with a focus on the English Language Arts.