I am trying to find a poem with the opening line, "Could it be a
prayer/bowing down to tie my shoes" or something like that.

is this what you're looking for?
 Old Coot Blues
I think I can remember when
I could get down and up again
Without the groan, the moan, the wheeze
That awful grinding in the knees
When I'd not have to sing the blues
At bending down to tie my shoes
When trimming toe nails, though never fun
Was easily and quickly done
Oh how I yearn for those days when
I could get down and up again.

Once there were days beyond belief
When a girl would drop her handkerchief
Then wait coquetisly for me
To bend and pick it up you see
Today instead of that retrieve
I'd offer her my handkerchieve.

Oh how I yearn for those days when
I could get down and up again.

Thank you, but no. This is not the poem. It starts something like:

Could it be a prayer?
Bowing down to tie my shoes.

But that's all of it I can recall.

Nita