Writing New Shoes

[Doukeshi]

My brand new shoes are white and red,
With fine, smooth laces and rubber soles.
I took them out of their cardboard box
And held them in my hands like a child.

They smell like fresh leather and polish
And shine so bright like the sun,
Firm and hard I need to break them in
And show them the ways of the world.

No dirt or soil marks these shoes,
They have not yet touched the earth.
I wish I could only keep them that way
But what use are they then?

I place them next to granddads shoes,
Inside the cupboard under the stairs,
His are worn, not like mine at all
And the laces are nearly snapped in two.

There are holes in the thin soles you can see through
And the leather is cracked and wrinkled,
The tongue hangs down like a tired dog
Too old to move, asleep on a chair

Mine smell like leather and crisp wrapping paper,
His smell like sweat and old threadbare socks,
They?re dusty and haven?t been worn in a while,

?Mum said we should throw them out.