Only a pair of shoes but
they hold her.

Leather, brown, scuffed beige
across the toes:

‘Don’t go kicking stones
or footballs

in your brand new shoes -
they cost too much

to be replaced, you’d have
to go barefoot

to school and you’d be sent home
with a note.’

And I knew I was grown up (or was
she a child?)

the day I caught her dancing,
stamping leaves

cornflake crunchy on the path. ‘This is why
I buy leather

soles,’ she said, ‘and I also like
the left-right beat

of the metal tips when I hurry.’
Don’t chuck the shoes.