The Wrong Shoes
Buses lined up along the narrow streets
On the corner of Jones
A gray haired man at the stop hanging out
He wore a kind face like Morgan Freeman
With twinkling eyes as if he had the joke I might not get
He was sitting sprawled on the concrete
Not on the bench that was only occupied by one
Woman in a. flowery dress talking with dramatic flair into a flip
Phone
I noticed one loafer was off and one was on
I stared at his brown cobbler style shoe for a moment and wondered
What compelled him to let it slip
His clean green sock pulled tight
Did his feet hurt like mine
Walking from stop to stop
We kept going
Left him there on the cement
With his hands clasped on knees
Would he ride the same bus as phone woman
And sit beside her then
I wondered
What story would he have to tell
When he walked through his door today
Maybe no different than mine
My feet hurt he would say to no one in particular
And not get a reply
Being from a small town any time we get to walk the streets of the big city takes me straight to inspiration. I want to sit on a bench and close my eyes, head leaning back to get the good position for taking in sounds.
At the corner of Jones I couldn’t help but snap this picture. I laughed aloud and told the boys I couldn’t get away from Sweet Potato Jones if I wanted to today. On the way back down the street on the corner of Jones later in the day I witnessed what I wrote about in The Wrong Shoes. The image is as clear in front of me as if I am still walking towards it. We were taking our time at that point. The day was getting closer to that time where everything seems to slow down, long enough to take in a particular scene with a stamp for later.
Now when all I hear are the crickets, the rotating fan, and snores – I find myself reliving the day and the poems present themselves to me. The stranger on the street with one shoe off came back to visit. He made it here with you and me, forever a part of my collection of poetry.
Hugs,
Jen
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Monarch - Dr. Jen Lowry 