Shoe Fetish

My great cousin set great store by shoes,
she would sigh and despair
when I returned after a term at school
with scuffed leather
and torn canvas.

I loved my great cousin but not her
quest to find the perfect shoe,
I liked cycling down hills
on a bike with no brakes
just using the heel,
those were my bruise
covered days
my hockey shins
and being the fastest on the field.

My great cousin was a city creature,
she boiled water several times over,
'water is just recycled pee'
we used mineral water
to wash our teeth
and she abhored
what she called my froggie roots
by buying a tartan kilt complete with safety pin.

Companions of enforced holiday stays,
she taught me that sticking a
small finger out over a tea cup
was decidedly infradig

My great cousin had a fetish for shoes
and great love in her soul,
she took in a semi orphaned child
into her ordered life
and gave me wisps of chocolate
and history and old fashioned manners
and a wicked sense of humour

'we don't tolerate fools
and brown shoes with blue suits'
sucking in her breath
'just doesn't do'






Poetry by Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 657 times
Written on 2015-10-30 at 20:37

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Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
I love this one :)
2015-11-05


one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
I read this yesterday, and have found myself smiling every time I think of "froggie roots." I couldn't agree more with your great cousin, brown shoes and blue suits just doesn't do, though it does suggest a certain attitude which appeals to me, either obliviousness, or take me as I am or don't take me at all.

the stanza describing your bike riding, hockey, fastest on the field days also made me smile. Bike riding was our mode of transportation when I was a kid, and fastest on the field was important. I was never the fastest.

What a great poem, thanks for stirring happy memories.
2015-10-31


Ivan R
Always, always, words written by Elle are as great as greatness is*
2015-10-31


Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
She sounds as if she was a mixed blessing, more good than bad. I have a couple of kids who seem to think that another pair of shoes is the solution to any problem.
2015-10-31



This is wonderful and I love, love, love the great cousin:)
Cxx
2015-10-30