The Story of Shoes -Edited For Word-Count-

Try walking a mile in my shoes! Ever thought what that means? Used so much in times of hardship but the reality Of the statement has decreased in value it seems. To wear my shoes isn't just to see what I've Been through but to get to know me. To understand me. Who I am, Defined By these insignificant soles below me. I go to the track and my trainers tell The story of weight lost, ability gained. The story of the pain and sometimes blood, paying the cost of victory, whether in sun or rain. As I run to the track instead of taking a bus, They tell the story of not having money But, atop the podium of success, they tell the Story of humbleness while tasting victory sweet like honey. The story of my street trainers is different. They walk past the playgrounds in my neighbourhood, Smiling with the children and parents at play And then pass Burger King, where the smell and the flavour's good! They tell the stories of children being Scolded in the grocery store And of the sidewalks of Waikiki, a strange blend Of the rich and the poor. All sharing that balmy Pacific breeze Because nature belongs to us all There's no price on the stories of my shoes, Stories big and stories small. The stories of my smart shoes. Late nights and church mornings. Sprinting down Oxford Street To catch the N15 bus, Knowing they run one-an-hour So catching it is a must! The stories of nerves, heading for job Interviews with sweaty palms, Thinking of ways to stop damp armpits, Reciting scriptures from the book of Psalms. "The Lord is my shepherd...." In the back row of church, reciting, The paradox stories of my shoes, Some hum-drum and some exciting! So consider the shoes of the person Next to you. There's always a story there. Look at the eyes then look at the shoes and Into the story of their life begin to stare. The shoes that just got a pay raise, the shoes Selling the high grade. Shoes that just saved a life. The boots that just took one, The shoes hiding that young man's knife. The stiletto earning money at night To feed her children in the day, The shoes that got into a fight at night and Wont see the morning of another day. The baby boots, across from you, being worn by The brightest smile and twinkling eyes, Bouncing on mum's knee while dad, wearing a Football shirt sings, "Who ate all the pies?!" With all these shoes and your mind, there's no Need for newspapers or reading books. Don't believe me? Go to your shoe rack, sit down, Say nothing and take a long, quiet look.