I attended a large gathering and took some time
to observe the great assortment of shoes stacked on the racks
I saw new shoes, pricey shoes, and shoes not worth a dime
and shoes that seemed to have crossed many paths and tracks.
I saw dainty sandals and flighty high heeled ones too
I saw sporty sneakers and rough and tough trainers
I saw both the laced and the leathery buckled shoe
Then I saw the humble yet hardy pair of slippers.
I saw pointy shoes, furry shoes and flatties as well
I saw flowery ones and those studded with trinket gems
Some stacked neatly in pairs, others thrown about pell mell
Some recently repaired, some coming off at the hems.
I saw long boots, rubber boots and
there were glittery Indian styled stilettoes
I spotted fragile glass sandals and metallic brass sandals
and soft comfy ones for comfort of feet 'n' toes.
And while I was thus lost and engrossed
in watching the great assortment of shoes
The old caretaker, to me, a cheap pair tossed
saying, ' here's an extra pair if you've lost your shoes.
She was too busy and distracted to be in my shoes of muse
So I'd to slip out thinking of some quick excuse
She didn't even notice I wasn't barefoot
So I had to take them elsewhere, both my muse and my boot!
Ah and long ago when once we could afford only a 'shoestring' budget
I once hadn't enough bucks to replace a worn out pair of shoes
I was sad for not having even a good goody two shoes
Then God showed me a wayfarer's shoeless pair of barefeet
and then one hapless one with no feet at all!
So I could imagine life being in their missing shoes.
See my 'footnote' AN now<img src='
what a wonderful representation, , , absolutely loved this one, , ,
very thought provoking poem..the pairs of shoes new and old, torn and mended, just fit the a pair of legs. I enjoyed this poem...thank you for sharing..
Excellent writing. I like it very much. Well-rhymed. Were you aware of the rhythm of this poem? You are a brilliant poet, I have to confess. Did you read any poem of Shiekh Saadi regarding shoe?
I love shoes of all sorts... but sadly I'm too old to wear stilletos now, (I loved your shoe shop)
Interesting write and a revealing piece on culture and regard for shoes.
DEAR S, i enjoyed the 'listing' of the shoes. then i was lost when you talked of a muse. Some stacked neatly in pairs, others thrown about pell mell I HAD TO check the definition of pell-mell [the online dictionary uses a hyphen] to see if it fit, and it definitely does, perfectly. Some recently repaired, some coming off at the hems. I'M NOT a shoemaker or tailor, but i would use stitching instead of hems here. i may be out-voted by the readers. that reminds me i have a shoe which is in serious need of repair before my toes start sticking out [it is not meant to be open-toed! ]. And while I was thus lost and engrossed in watching the great assortment of shoes DON'T THESE TWO PAIRS OF LINES BELONG TOGETHER? The old caretaker, to me, a cheap pair tossed saying, ' here's an extra pair if you've lost your shoes. thanks for sharing the poem AND the FOOTnote. now i know where to 'shop' for shoes.........a mosque! bri :)
This was funny though not a shoephile such as yourself I am amused by the subject, if the shoe fits just wear it. Thank you for given a description of this story, it was an interesting and well told tale. An amazing eye for detail
You have put your observation and thoughts nicely in verse form.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Brilliant poem. Well done. Gets you thinking for sure.