A Life in Four Pairs of Shoes

[Knot]

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Hi 26389.

No need to rush revisions

Just some food for thought

First, her loyal Converses,

(her little clown shoes)

red and slapping corridors

between AP Calc and English,

Drama, and dramatic friends,

and boys. Those she held

on to, they took her everywhere.

(are these the same as the 'old sneakers'?)

Second, her rough tan Timberlands,

weathered, worn, for lumbering,

clomping up those mountains,

she first climbed when she realized

she had the strength, the views,

she said, were worth it.

Third, good old Nordstrom two inch heels,

stiletto sharp and shiny-black, pointedly

her most strategic shoes, in the office

on important days and elsewhere

on important nights. Best with pantyhose

and candlelight.

Finally that old pair of sneakers

- no brand, but comfortable -
she had on in the crash.

(don't know what 'a beloved sheath dress' is.

'Her favourite' in the original made more sense, to me.)

I wanted to refer to her coffin as a symbol of the physical reality of her death and the use of shoes,
symbols of activity and personality in the rest of the poem, as a form of denial.
Fair enough. It was just that I was reading 'let her go barefoot' as - take her as she is, she is worthy
and needs no adornment. (The 'coffin' just seemed to detract/distract from that).

(You may not want to do it here, but I'd suggest changing the title to
[her name], in Four Pairs of Shoes.)


Best, Knot



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