It was cold
And it was quiet
And it was dark
But I was okay
Because when I closed my eyes
There was light
And there were trees
And there was music
And I stayed there instead

Pieces were all I had
But they were enough
They were enough to start a fire
They were enough to build a wall
They were enough to tell a story
They were enough to begin
And that's all I needed

People are looking at your shoes

Heels, sandals, flats with a moose

Boots, converse, whatever you choose


People are looking at your shoes

If x is one and y is two

My shoe is me and your shoe is you

Laces, bows, straps or buckles

It could leave me wowed or staring with chuckles


People are looking at your shoes

Heels for status

Laces for class

Boots for the rugged

Buckles for sass

Shoes tell a story of the places we've tread

If we are hungry or if we're well fed

Shoes paint a picture of how we view life

One fun adventure or if we need a knife


People are looking at your shoes

But hey,

I say walk bare footed by the sea and be free, be free to be you

Because people are people and you are you

Ochre scrubbed ebony skin
Wooden jewelery here and there
Picture perfect beauty in simplicity
She walked in moral fortification -
fashioned in decency
Hardwork and wisdom was her charm

Barefeet and weighted with firewood on her head
Pots and baskets she juggled in hands
and through scorching heat she focussed ahead
the dessert sand burning her feet
Not once did she say it was a plight

She was proud to be a woman
The keeper of men and children
Through rain through sunshine
cooperating with her man's other woman

She worked for survival of all
Getting up in the first light of day
Submitting and respecting
Raising her children in acceptable ways

She was the unglorified worrior
A war hero could not fit her shoe

But she didnt have that shoe
So she smiled and made her man happy,
and her children

Everyone can afford dreams
But I was the biggest shopper
Shoving condos and benzes into my cart
No cashier at the exit to demand payment

I picked lavish expensive charms
Had no worries about pennies
Everything was costless
Blessings from the gods

I was younger then I grew a little older
I kept shopping for expensive dreams
With time I encountered little snags
I couldnt get out of the mall with my immense goods

So I bargained with my conscience
Drop this and pick that
What was lighter I thought was better
So I chose those that were easier

Years went by and I learnt lessons little by little
A sister had shopped for the Whitehouse
And arrived home with a highschool
The question is can you carry what you pick?

A friend had shopped for the most
Yet arrived home with the least
So I selected the lightest
But when I packed, my car wouldn't budge

I further reduced my pricey costless goods
Albeit grudgingly,promising myself
I would come back for them
But **** there are no second rounds

As I grew older and older
I found myself driving home
With only a few of those costless goods
They were not even the biggest and priciest

They were what I could carry
Every time I stop by that dream shop
To do some window shopping
And say I wish