Footwear and a mendicant
After going to several shoe shops, I found shoes that fitted me
happy, I walked along and saw a woman sitting on the pavement
begging, she looked old for her age severely marked by poverty.
I stopped and looked for change; I didn’t have any, the woman
waited, what to do now?
I could not walk past, like not noticed this wretched soul
I gave her a note of ten euros and cursed myself, but it triggered
a memory from my childhood.
Mother had gone into a shop she had stamps to buy woollen socks
nylon socks were for the rich; a lady walked past, saw my holed
tennis shoes my brother had outgrown.
She went into a shoe shop, came out with a pair of black shoes
gave them to me, they fitted perfectly; I couldn’t wait
showing them to the children on our road.
Mother came out in her hands had the woolly socks,
I showed mother my shiny shoes; take them off, she said and
put the tennis shoes on the new shoes are for Sundays only.
Millie millipede needed some new shoes
for her summer holiday fun Disney cruise
Her old shoes were tight making Millie hop
so she went with mommy to the shoe shop
Millie hobbled through the door and began to wail
the poor shop assistant’s face turned quite pale
because Millie millipede had got forty tiny feet
so she sat Millie down on a comfortable seat
The shop assistant summoned a little elf
to fetch some shoe boxes from a high shelf
and when Millie tried some shiny red boots
she said, "These are wonderful substitutes"
The boots were leather and had a thick heel
for walking round Disneyland they’d be ideal
With so many feet Millie needed twenty pairs
so the elf assistant dashed up and down stairs
Mom was given a discount when the bill was paid
so they stopped at a café for sweet lemonade
Millie wore her shiny boots all the way home
stopping off to show them to her pal Ted gnome.
Nursery Rhyme 2 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Eve Roper
03/12/21
Shining-shimmering shoes should something
Shirley shopped at Shalanee’s shoe shop.
She should have not shopped with shy Shay who
only shops shorty-shorts at the shopping mall and
shoots gold at Sharon’s pawnshop.
Shirley could have shared a pair of sheering shoes with Shandy
if it wasn’t for Sheena who shamelessly
showed her shocking-shindy shopping spree
manic shimmying for a Penshoppe…
Shivering Shirley should have shopped to Shoppee;
shipped Shandy's shiny shoes and pays the shipment fee
instead of shopping with Shay and Sheena
who shadowed and shrilled her shopping “Shoe” day.
He dashed into shoe-shop;
“I have searched for shoes
All shops have big shoes
But when I eat more food
I will fill in space that is
Comfortably and steadily
I shall move all the way
My head has rare wisdom”
He grabbed despite advice
The shoes were oversize
And when they hurt him
He filled stones in spaces
And praised his wisdom
As townsmen laughed
But by end of the year
His legs were taken away
To surgeon for amputation
And immediate replacement
With wooden pieces!
"Shimmering Sharon shows shining shoes at Shirley's shoe shop."
DECEMBER 11, 2015
Mr and Mrs walking down the High Street
Shoe shop window her eyes did now greet
Into the shop they both went
Oh! those boots, please consent
Too dear, no purchase, no receipt
Ready for bed and feeling so fruity
His hand now caressing her beauty
Cutting sharpness she says
With no payment display
No horse shoes, your not riding it's booty
.
Once upon a time not so very long ago,
There was a man with old shoes, which let the air flow
He travelled to the shoe shop with money in his hand
To buy another pair of shoes, of the same brand
To his surprise when he picked up another pair of tens
They didn’t fit upon his feet, he checked that they were men’s
So matching up the shoes, the elevens seemed to fit
He bought the bigger size, he’s confused, just a bit
He wonders if they’re down sizing to save upon shoe leather
Due to really quite hard times, in this economic weather
Now he walks upon the pavement with a hobble and a creak
His shoes need breaking in, to stop the blisters and that squeak
As time goes by
In our town there were many small shops, one selling
buttons the other socks; and a hardware store should
you need a hammer and nails to hang up a picture of
your mother -in- law, in the living room.
There was also a shop selling scarves, another selling
ladies hats, and a third one, quite posh, selling suits and
ties. I mustn’t forget the shoe shop, leather footwear
black or brown and white tennis shoes.
In our street of trade most shops have shut, those still
open are run by the Orientals where you can buy all
you need for a very small price. If your shoes wear out,
no point going to the old cobbler, buy Chinese instead.
Red lanterns sway in the fiscal breeze of decline where
wistfulness has no price tag. But you must remember
this, a shop is just a shop, yet, for us sentimental fools,
are remembered as a sweet memory of times gone by,
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.