Friday, June 1, 2012

Barefoot


Barefoot

Barefoot
In my mom’s friend’s backyard
Tall weeds
Unfinished construction
Dirty rusted nail in wood
Now in my foot

Remembering
Tetanus shot
Blood
Cockroach infested kitchen
Unclean
Poverty

We bond with each other
Over bloody feet
Circumstances into which we’re born
Methods we used to cope
Until that turned to addictions
Without the benefit of recovery
Taking new lives down the same paths
Of unclean
Impoverished realities
Recreating circumstances
As if there were nothing else available
When we know the truth

There are other times
When we have walked
Clean grass under feet
Smell of crisp wet summer
Happy
Fearless
Without shame
Barefoot.


 @jennieolsonsix 2012