I didn’t know I was going to write about shoes today when I woke up this morning. I didn’t know that thinking about a pair of unforgettable shoes would trigger such vivid memories. I surprised myself as the memories of my favorite shoes came flooding in. The ones that stuck out in my mind the most were brilliant aqua suede boots. They were my alter-ego and I cherished them. When I finally parted with them, I put them in the dress-up corner at the Nursery School where I taught. I loved seeing them be re-purposed by little ones who would clomp around in them playing firefighters. Now, that would be something to see – firefighters in aqua suede, high-heeled boots! Sometimes, writing surprises us. What a nice surprise!
My inspiration for “Ready to Dance” comes from Sarah J. Donovan’s site, Verse-Love, Ethical ELA. Today’s prompt is by Andy Schoenborn, an award-winning author and high school English teacher in Michigan at Clare Public Schools. He suggested that we write in prose about a pair of unforgettable shoes, and then play with the structure and form as a poem tumbles down the page. I also received inspiration from NaPoWriMo, or National Poetry Writing Month: 30 Poems in 30 Days, which was created by Maureen Thorson. NaPoWriMo. Today, they suggested writing a poem describing an opening scene from your life.
Ready to Dance
From the beginning, I was attracted to bright, shiny shoes. I might have been influenced by Dorothy and her sparkling ruby slippers. Scratch that! I was definitely in awe of Dorothy’s ruby slippers. Imagine clicking your heels and being able to return home again. Just like that! Those ruby shoes set me off on a life searching for magic, discovery, and possibility. I am always vigilant, always seeking surprise. Shoes were a ways to transport myself into a new life: the glossy cowboy boots, the soft pink ballet slippers, the black Converse high tops. They were magic keys to new kingdoms, new ways to express myself, new adventures. I kept them for years after I outgrew them know that someday I would return.
The pair that I’ll never forget were aqua suede, high-heeled lace-up ankle boots. They had sharp pointy toes and black lacquered heels. I found them in a small shop in New York City. They were fancy and bold, not me at all. I fell in love with them immediately. This was in the 80’s when Flashdance was a box office hit. I saw those boots and I knew I had to own them. Then I put on black leggings, a long loose sweatshirt, and those blue boots, I became another person, a confident person, a person comfortable in her body ready to move, ready to take on the world, ready to dance.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 