The Big Black Boots
Stephanie Hrehirchuk
My heels scuff the ground
Clomp, clomp, clomp
Heavy heels on snowy sidewalks
I leave my mark
As I run to the school
My daughter in tow
My feet are bare
Inside these boots too big for me
My toes are free
I slipped them on
As I rushed from home
Just in time for the bell
A teacher stands
Coffee in hand
I say farewell
They are not mine
These big black boots
Left at the door by my husband
I run once again
Scuff scuff, clomp clomp
Though no longer a need
The wind whips the snow
And I head for home
In the big black boots
Everything looks blue
In the early morning
Clouds and snow
My hair flies free
Whipped in the wind
Behind me
I am young once again
A traveler of time
In the big black boots
Another pair
My feet knew well
My sixteen year-old feet
I had slipped them on
As a girl on the farm
Safe and warm
When watering horses
Or visiting Nan
By way of Ski-Doo
Long Canadian winters
I never minded them then
In the big black boots
I could always find them
Left at the door
By Dad
As I ran home
I was young again
In the big black boots