"Her Sturdy Brown Boots " ~ the poem

(~ a continuation of Boot Week in Martha Phelps Studio;

this is the companion piece to Monday's sketch)

As boots go, no one would dispute the simple truth
that hers were intriguing.

Relics of some off season
consignment store
discovery, this footwear was uncommon,
well-crafted and possessing ginger-
flavored attitude that winked as it
walked.

What with the carefully
stitched strips of pale blue leather,
hand tooled designs of
paisley,
sunbeams, teardrops,
and perfectly inlaid freckles of delicate
red and orange peering out from sturdy
buttery
brown calfskin...

...what with the tough ringing clip
that followed each step as she crossed a street,
yet with soles worn smooth from dancing many nights

...what with just-so heels
which lent an advantage for the occasional tall kiss.
Indeed,

they were not only perfect in winter 
with comfy blue jeans
or a short
skirt and tights,

but in summer -
they polished off a backless dress,
and charmingly invited glimpses
of bare brown knees
that peeked not-too-shyly, from 
between
the fall of the dress’s hem

and the rise of the boot's rim.

No, there would be no
wrangling this truth. 


As boots go, her tried and traveled pair
had panache,
wit for wearing
places to go, and were indeed

intriguing.