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My last pair of boots, sit by the back door,
Faded yellow and black, via asphalt and straw.
They sprawl where their thrown, spread-eagled with socks,
The steel-toe caps are showing, through all the hard knocks.
I've worn out dozens of boots, by the score,
But these are my last, I won't need anymore.
Grafted all my life, sweated and bled,
Wrote a heart-wrenching poem, in a felt-tip of red,
On the back of a letter, from the Hospital, to my lad,
Just a change of appointment, addressed to me, his Dad.
But the words are unreadable, I can only guess at a few,
It was probably a masterpiece , though I haven't a clue.
Written through frustration, written through tears,
At Three in the morning, after too many beers,
About a change of career, getting a worthwhile job,
There must be an easier way, than to work like a dog.
Staying inside in the winter, not out in the fields,
Digging trenches and footings and dying on shields.
Dressing up smartly, using brain not just brawn,
Rising at noon, instead of teeth-chattering dawn.
But I forgot why I wrote it, the mind has many routes,
So I've just been out to buy, a new pair of boots. . . .
We have all probably written a great poem, which made sense
at the time, but when you come back to it, it seems gibberish.
All I had was the title and the first six lines, for the rest of it,
the pen had almost run out, so I couldnt understand it
W
your eyes are like rivers
under faded layers of algae, I'll uncover my ocean blue
along my spine they grant shivers
how could I ever find another you?

your touch is lightening
sending jolts through my being right from the tips of your fingers
it's really quite frightening,
after all this time, how could this feeling still linger?

your smile is my moon & sun  
gloom of night or cheer of day, it's all I ever see
but I feel that I've truly won
when I'm convinced it's only for me


your laugh is my favourite song
I could hear it on repeat for the rest of my time
do you think you'll keep me around for long?
wouldn't want you anything but mine
I see the way you look at me
a fat girl wearing a crop top at the gym.
Your frown screams how dare you
and I'm sure your mind says it too.

-
The small girl walks in
with perfect hair and shorts barely there.
You will avert your eyes
to avoid the ugly in your gym.

But wait.

You didn't.

You walked over and smiled.
Said hi.
Gave me some advice
and moved on.
-

-
There are boys I know
from middle and high school;
I haven't seen in years.

I see them wonder at my clothes
while acknowledging me
with tiny pursed smiles.
-

-
There are women larger than I
they look at me with disgust
and I don't know why.
-

So many judgements
in a place where walls are mirrors
and sweat is a normal thing.

But do these people really feel
the way I think they do?

Because I look at them
and don't really care.

We're all just working out
in a gym
trying to become
who we want to be.
Clawing our way through the city, pale, hunched and toothless.
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