Little White Shoes
i grew with my sister for months upon end
squished up and squashed in beside my best friend
we held strong together until we were due
i knew nothing at all of little white shoes
sweet tiny arms stretched to hands, fingers, thumbs
a button like nose and a cute teeny tum
fully formed legs but my feet were confused
what is this i hear about little white shoes
a foot that had turned in, faced the wrong way
bent out of shape in the womb while i lay
will walking be normal, a growing mind mused
it seems i will need some little white shoes
soon i got painted in bandage and paste
a casting from tip toes to the edge of my waist
cutting it off at the end of week two
they measured my feet for little white shoes
my leg it looks straight and where it belongs
but sorry they said your bones still aren’t strong
as doc went right through all the don’ts and the dos
ten tiny toes scrunched in little white shoes
mommy and daddy in sorrow and pain
they looked at me sadly and could not explain
why it was needed, deepened their blues
that life would begin wearing little white shoes
wait, can you hear me, i won’t fall behind
i’ll kick with my legs till those feet are aligned
they’ll ache and may bleed, perhaps leave a bruise
there’s no holding back in my little white shoes
i’ll crawl like the caterpillar who’s not scared of birds
and run like a buffalo catching up to the herd
crazy i’ll bounce, leap and box kangaroos
showing my spirit made with little white shoes
but right now i’m sleepy, legs are worn out
starting tomorrow i will kick more, no doubt
so lose all your worries as i fade off and snooze
i’ll be so much stronger for little white shoes
Copyright © Grant Norwood | Year Posted 2016
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