RED SHOES, WHITE SHOES, BROWNS AND BLUES
GOD, THERE ARE SO MANY HUES!
LEATHER, PLASTIC, FABRIC TOO.
STITCHED AND MOLDED, ASSEMBLED WITH GLUE.
SLIP-ON, VELCROED, BUTTONED AND TIED
ALL THESE AND MANY MORE HAVE BEEN TRIED.
STACK-HEELED, HIGH HEELED, HARD RUBBER SOLED.
MANY BRAND NEW, BUT OTHERS QUITE OLD.
STILLETOS, TOE SHOES, GOING TO AND FRO SHOES
BOW SHOES, LOW SHOES, “LOOK AT ME IN MY ‘HO’ SHOES.”
GOLD, BRONZE, SILVER, STRIPED AND STIPPLED
ALL THIS FASHION HAS LEFT ME CRIPPLED.
CROOKED LITTLE TOES AND BLACKENED NAILS–
DO I STILL LOOK SEXY TO YOU MALES?
WITH ALL THIS PAIN, HOW CAN I EXIST?
PLEASE! SOMEONE FIND ME A PODIATRIST.
ANESTHETIZED, THEN TENDONS SEVERED
PINS IN DIGITS WITH PILLOWS LEVERED.
DISCOMFORT ABOUNDS FOR MONTHS ON END…
THEN PINS REMOVED SO TOES CAN BEND.
SOCKS WITH HOLES AND MOON BOOTS WORN
ALL OF THIS AND THEN–NEW FEET ARE BORN.
AND NOW, WITH NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
AGAIN I TRY ON ALL THOSE SHOES.
I SQUEEZE, I WHEEZE, BUT THERE’S NO KEY
TO END THIS FOOTWEAR AGONY.
I’M MAKING A STATEMENT. TO ALL I DECLARE:
“‘TIL KINGDOM COME, MY FEET WILL GO BARE!”
Jan Chapman
February, 2007
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