Parity
every day without fail he stopped at the small stall
whatever the weather and however hurried he was
his shoes did not need glow for his path was muddy
and the sweaty feet managed to moisten the leather
from inside so much that he seemed walked on water
but the shoe shine was his regular daily luxury and
he wished to portray that his slippers eased their way
through striding about his life with decency and pride
‘never judge anyone unless you tasted their journey’
and thus he always parted with a coin for a sparkle
the labourer was dressed in rags and in need of repair
in himself weary eyed with sad smile cast from his lips
but the young artisan knew his craft with the cloth
willing to serve as he creamed lathered and polished
until the footwear were mirrors reflecting his work
never once was he careless or sloppy in his service
worked with whatever dignity that had remained his
the vendor unlike others never addressed him as boy
always gave him a heartfelt ‘thank you kindly Sir’
and knew truly he head the better side of the bargain
as the years went by the shoes became so threadbare
that they resembled foot rags but not one to worry
the wearer enjoyed his small part of the transaction
that he rather invested in shoe shine than a new pair
until it eventually came down to rubbing wax on his feet
13th April 2021
Writing prompt Shine
Sponsor Constance La France
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