a Contessa went barefoot once*
in a touch of inverted snobbery
Hollywood's requisite razzle-dazzle 

at times we have all downed our shoes
there in the sand to run against the grains
or discarded killer heels after the first dance 

barefoot conjures carefree
more often though it is just beggardom
hardening the soles 

soldiers strip the dead for boots
going hell for leather on their long march
hungry enough to eat the hide

9 thoughts on “Bare soles”

1. I liked the association of “barefoot” with “beggardom” rather than “carefree”.

   1. yes that was a timely reminder for me

2. That last stanza reminding of everything with war… so,chilling

   1. strange how we both chose a facet of war for shoes

3. I remember that film, Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart – a classic. My favourite lines have to be:
   ‘barefoot conjures carefree
   more often though it is just beggardom
   hardening the soles’.

   1. not the best of their film roles but this light-footed start makes for the contrast – great prompt by the way Kim

      1. Thank you, Laura.

4. Dark side to boots marching…weary and battle worn.

   1. The dark side won this time!

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