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black patent leather

by Kristina Woodhill

black patent leather
small feet growing,
straps lovingly buckled
holding heels
firmly inside and to
the ground

toes eagerly tip-tap-tap
talking to the pattern
on the hard linoleum floor,
talking to the cracks
striping the long concrete side walk,
whispering loudly on the steps to the church

sitting quietly, legs and feet
swinging, too short to reach the floor
small hands slide softly
over the smooth, smooth
black patent mirror
for smiling small faces

who can hear the soft rustle
of a new easter dress
when the shoes do all the talking!

04/12/2009

Author's Note: childhood memories

Posted on 04/12/2009
Copyright © 2024 Kristina Woodhill

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Joan Serratelli on 04/12/09 at 03:59 PM

Black patent leather shoes? Had them when I was a kid.You descibed them so well, that I can actually see them and if any stores were open today, I'd go buy a pair! Good write! Shoes DO make the outfit- just ask my kid (we could have bought a new house with the money we spent on her sneakers!

Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 04/12/09 at 04:05 PM

Sweet reminders of my own childhood Easters Kristina. New clothes, family, church...

Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 04/12/09 at 04:30 PM

Some wonderful, beautiful snaphots. I really enjoyed this.

Posted by George Hoerner on 04/12/09 at 07:21 PM

You have so faithfully given us a part of your childhood here. It is a great picture and the talking says so much.

Posted by Tony Young on 04/12/09 at 10:43 PM

Cute piece and very enjoyable, how it was, even... lovely work.

Posted by Clara Mae Gregory on 04/13/09 at 12:10 AM

Oh how this brings back my own tap dancing Easter Sunday memories.This is so enjoyable to read.Thank you for creating and the last line is the powerful punch line without a doubt!Excellent piece of writing. LOVED IT!

Posted by Rhiannon Jones on 04/13/09 at 01:51 AM

Oh those shiny black mary-janes (I always wanted the white ones for Easter, but my mother thought they were "trashy") . Thanks for this sweet walk down memory lane...and remember the straw Easter hats?!

Posted by Mary Frances Spencer on 04/13/09 at 10:06 PM

My daughter used to sleep in her "tap" shoes when she was little! Nice write here! MFS

Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 04/15/09 at 01:20 AM

Hmmm warmly nostalgic. Takes me back to the Easters of my youth when my sisters would get their new patent leather shoes along with dresses my mother made for them.

Posted by Glenn Currier on 07/16/09 at 01:54 PM

Smiling broadly - enjoying and basking in the moments of the little girl discovering a whole new world attached to little feet. I love the sounds and rhythm in the second verse. :-))

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