Untitled / henry tetteh

I’ve walked thousands of miles in these shoes
Weak, wet, cold
My feet have bled from the torn sole as the hard ground punctures my heel
I’ve walked through deserts and mountains
Through the rain and the snow
I took my bruises, took my lumps
Fell down and I got right back up
I want to see you try it
Put it on see if it fits
Maybe walk a foot or two
I want to see how long it will take
Until you collapse on the weight of these shoes
You see
These shoes aren’t meant to be easy
To be comfortable
They are meant only for those who can stand to be hurt
To be cut and bruised
For feet that are willing to get cold and wet
Tired
Let’s see if you can walk in my shoes
As I have walked in them my whole life

Emulation of Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son” in celebration of Poetry Out Loud.

• Category: Painting, Poetry
• Tag: Black History Month, Poetry Out Loud