Just Shoes

Ballerina slippers and military boots,

discarded baby booties

from early days,

steel toes, mules and high heels

some destined for salvage stores

and others worn by millions

who died in the agony of wars,

displayed in museums

so we don’t forget history

or those who died.

Shoes, once full of life,

left in a heap, by unsuspecting humans

with little or no thought for tomorrow.

Unsuspecting people,

who think

their journey

will never end.

Mud from the picnic in the country;

cotton candy and gum from the amusement park,

making for sticky bottoms.

Running shoes, cleats, driving shoes, golf shoes

and those for the garden;

favorite sneakers

 that her toes curled in when she got her first kiss

from that summer boy,

under a gigantic yellow moon.

Shoes,

 take on our print,

tell our story and leave shapes

on our soles

and souls.

Some neatly polished,

others, ragged and worn,

summer sandals and winter lined boots.

Shoes,

a part of us, daily

seeing all those things that no one else

is supposed to know,

keeping our secrets and our treasures

until one day,

we simply leave them in a heap

to transition in our shadows.

and perhaps to

new feet.

                                                 

                                                   Joyce Burns

© Joyce (Tidwell) Burns, ChynaMoon Creations 1997-2011