Poem

barefoot


take off your shoes,
one, two—
let one fall, hold the other
sole
in that pregnant pause
now you hold control
you say when the other
will drop

wingtips, chucks, boots,
uggs, flip-flops,
let 'em go

no living on the rack—
no stretching or fearful waiting
but like a dog hearing a
clinking leash,
barking, anticipating

naked feet,
now that’s the way to meet—
unfurl your toes, see where
the road goes—
close to the pavement
feel the heat

shed your fears
those old socks
one, two, however many
you got,
let ‘em drop

it’s hard to be serious
when you shake your toes
all business ends with
the hem, the cuff and calf
a strong suit and bare feet--
who wouldn’t laugh?