I don’t want to tell you what to do
I can only tell you what’s true
beware of new shoes at school
they can leave you black and blue
blistered, and embittered
By the end of second lecture
I was so affected
I had to slip them off
and walk around barefoot
enduring the side-eyed censure
my barefootedness triggered
to avoid further scandal
Charles brought me some mule sandals
and by third lecture, all was happily corrected.
Anyway, don’t let this happen to you
fashion can make you a fool
unless they’re sneakers, of course
I’m not sneaker averse
I ended up washing my feet
in a tiny ladies-room sink
what else could I do?
.
.
A song for this:
A Girl Called Johnny by The Waterboys
.
.
I discovered a band from the 80s - The Waterboys - I LOVE their every sound.
THOSE THESE SHOES I WEAR I’M BAREFOOTED-
you wear the shoes that fit you
Bottomed out barefooted
Naked toes and sole
Standing on Holy Grounds
~
You dance like David dance
A spectrum of Holy worship
He sees your heart beyond your flesh
Standing on Holy Grounds
~
You raise the hands that were given you
You stand on the grounds the lands in shoes
Naked you come into this world, naked you return
9/3/25
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2025©
"from LIFE DISCERN Anthology "
Clouds adrift across the blue sky, like sailing ships over serene sea on a sunny afternoon. Two barefooted boys beach-comb for treasures that have washed ashore, on the warm sandy beach leaving footprints behind; listening to the resonant sonorousness sounds of the sea, as cold sea air rolling inland ruffles their hair. A calm wave silently creeps leaving a slight spume over the golden tanned sand, then slowly drawing back a breath, taking their footprints back with it into its turquoise depth.
The two weary boys walk away with sand on their feet, leaving footprints behind on the beach, as they carry a handful of seashells; the sun draws it curtains close, and the night yawns a whiff of cool air exposing its sublime moon.
4/29/2021
Sponsored by: Carolyn Devonshire
Contest Name: "Footprints" Old or New for a Prize
Maybe I will merge with you on a Friday sermon
In a time of congregation prayer
From upstairs, with all my questions of Khushoo' and khudoo'
I would see people and people, their shirts, logos on those jerseys
There will be request in a softer voice to turn off all those cell phones.
I would see those windows, chandeliers , those bright lights
All those lavish carpets would bring lots of people
Maybe you will be one of them, a barefooted one.
I never knew when I grew up, in a real sense
I am still in my early years, when I recite verses with my efforts
With my ability , with my inability and with all my common senses
May be I am not up to the norm, you also remind me quite often
I see an agonizing pain with all my truest intention, there.
Note: Khushoo' - calmness in salah
Deeper Reasons Barefooted
Come here, now you!
Don't hesitate one second, not even two!
I don't care if it is the Spring season,
let me whisper into your snuggly ear...
My unblushing, clandestine, deeper reason!
Here in the dark~~~barefooted, we!
In a timeless, forever, amaranthine rhapsody.
Cordialement Votre,
Panagiota
5/7/2019
4:15pm PST
Once A Wild Child, Playing Barefooted In Deep Snow
Until you have walked the hard path, felt its brutal cold
stopped believing this world, in it great lies being sold
do not ever step forth and dare try to ridicule me
for I am a seeding planted beneath Truth's great tree.
Taught from birth, Nature is far greater friend than foe
once a wild child playing barefooted, in deep snow
now a man that has lived with his eyes wide open
never deceived into being another blinded token.
Truth came in with my birth and Native American blood
later knowledge of Nature's gift like a raging flood
I sleep and dream of earth, virgin as once it stood
Yes, I would remove man's many stains if only I could.
Until you have walked the hard path, felt its brutal cold
Stopped believing this world, in it great lies being sold.
R.J. Lindley,
April 22nd 1978
Sonnet,(Nature, Native Blood And Wisdom)
NOTE- I have been ill these last few days. Could not write and even this morn can only post this very old poem, unedited. Forgive me this lack of new writes, I am trying to post and finish some of my old poems and many fragments..
skies of rainbow blue as ocean moves
girl’s sassy swirls of soft tangled hair,
where pearls would dare clasp its curls
glow in her eyes special gentle blue
waves flow of tear drops buckets full
beautiful mud stain blush cheeks
Oh, such a handful only three feet high
arms full of endless hugs and pretty please
barefooted, dirty, and grass stain knees
while magpie explores the world never to say good-bye
double bubbles scents of lavender berries
pink and blue little ponies warm and cozy PJs
night promise dreams of fairies,
flowering ponds, bunnies, and butterflies
over and over stories whispers lullabies hums
sleep little angel in clouds full of stars
wishes of rainbow bridges to the moon
fairyland castles held by balloons
where little ponies play musical tunes
yesterday’s gardens today and tomorrow
fairies glimmer flittering amongst its blooms
enchanting flavors of snow cones,
bubblegum and cherry plums
unicorns, maidens, and gnomes chuckles
sleep till morning when you rise
to endless hugs and pretty please
explore the world never to say good-bye
2/2/2016
When Suns are young and we are born
Not needing shoes to kick the womb
A maze of mirrors, gates to the unknown
Erects us tall blinding hearts with hopes...
And we pretend we know the way
Although there are so many lefts
The rights are few, we change our shoes
The thickness of the Soul.?..depending on the distance...
"I close my eyes, my boots are tearing flesh alive
I have to walk and cry for miles and miles
There is no turning back, the lefts are few
Straight forward? Bullets... Upward? An eagle and the sky...
I fight a desert that's not mine to quench the thirst in few"
A maze of foggy mirrors shatters rhythmically in echoes...
And sons were young when blinded by uniforms and pride
Their stolen boots walk now eternally......for miles and miles....
Amid a tempting generation
Is the presence of extreme desecration
History beckons on history
Evil now occupies mans memory
Where is love?
Where is peace?
What has affected mankind like a disease
In the land,i search for purification
Only to behold with mine eyes
"Moral degradation"
I weep,i wail,i think,i am pale
For to mankind i ask,"which Creator do you now hail"
Pestilence,Hatred,Wickedness
Are elevated in today's presence
Mankind has adopted treason
And as such,no longer reasons
Upon those concrete issues that create joy within
They now serve a god called "money"
Upon this noble earth are ignominious deaths
of people who were stars at birth
Where is the sacredness of human life
God Almighty established us in beautification
And now,man says no to sanctification
What a shame!
Who do we blame?
Millions struggle and hustle without aim
Life!Oh Life!Is surely vain
I wander out of my state of boredom
And ask,
Why have we devalued our values?
Why has man left out the Holy tracks?
Where are the traces of love?
Where are the traces of hope?
Why is mankind
"BAREFOOTED".
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