Shoes Poem by Richard Jarboe

40,000 years ago when things were Paleolithic,
Some guy looked at his bare feet and said,
There's got to be something better instead,
What did he do? He invented the shoe.

Color, material and designs have changed,
Transforming shoes over the years,
Sandals, moccasins leather wrapped around,
Started to show up in various towns.

Women's and men's shoes looked the same,
Material determined social class,
In Europe some made shoes out of wood,
Hard as a rock but feeling good.

Then a breakthrough appeared one night,
When an expert figured out left from right,
Foot specifics built in those days,
Were the beginning of a new fashion craze.

Decade to decade changed the feel,
It came to pass we got the high heel,
Pushing the toosh, wiggling the walk,
Women walked by putting men into shock.

Point shoes gave us a new way to dance,
Binding feet became passe'
Certain designs led to romance,
And sneakers helped us run away.

Dapper, debonaire, elegant, smart,
Shoes now have a place in the heart,
And if in tough times you get the blues,
Go back to the shack and get your walking shoes.