No Shoelaces Allowed
by Paula LaCour


the emergency psychiatric floor
has the most uncomfortable
plastic, boxy chairs.

i had curled into a purple
one my first trip there
knees to chin, one socked
foot tucked under it's sister.

i watched a few of
the corralled that chose
to pace what little space
they owned, noticed i was
the youngest patient
that peppered the plexiglas room.

after three hours
my name was finally called
i stood slow and rocked.

pin pricks ambushed my calf
and as i hobbled toward
the nurse a man i passed said
next time you'll know not to sit.






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