It’s the last day before a new era.
I’m walking in cold wet boots, but soon they’ll find another path.
Without me.
These boots have drawn me to the deep abyss
They’ve slept me on the toes of tigers
Rushed me head on into the jaws of a raging truck
Climbed trees too young to bear my weight under hot cassowary pursuit
Torn down rocky paths on desert mountains that crumble to a hungry sea
Pondered vast beaches who’s water has receded almost to the horizon
Wondering ‘Where’s my swim?’
They’ve followed the solid white lines of a highway to find some security
Amidst the chaos of peak hour trucks
They’ve scaled steep sides of glass building facades –
An eroding rope the only thing between me and a chalk outline on the pavement below.
They’ve strutted into wild parties full of cheer –
And walked me to a dark corner to ponder the festivities alone
They’ve wandered into endless cafes to give me a moment to connect
They’ve met raging dogs, hot breath on my heels as I run
They’ve skipped across moss covered rocks in raging rapids daring me to fall
They’ve hijacked my sense of self and walked into foreign lands as if they live there
They’ve dashed across great carpets of lava and barely splashed me at all. Well, barely
They’ve floated me weightlessly into the farthest corners of the universe
They’ve jumped over chasms before checking if there was somewhere to land on the other side
They’ve been swept away by every hint of wind, of change, to a new place
They’ve run me into the danger of connection…
And right past it when it got too close.
They’ve found pots of gold at the bottom of rainbows and kicked them to the ground in disbelief
They’ve stopped dead in the middle of a railway as the lights grew blindingly bright
They’ve climbed ladders painted brightly in rainbow hues to hide the rot beneath the facade
They’ve kicked dirt up to the heavens in disgust, and also in joy
They’ve tapped in time to an unknown jig and danced like it was the last day on earth
They’ve hung out in the gutter for a while to clean themselves in the storm-water
They’ve tripped me over in confusion when they tried to go everywhere at once
They made me do unexpected side splits when they succeeded
They’ve met other boots and rubbed toes with them, and now they have different colours on them
Some really match
Some really don’t
They’ve stepped into ponds much deeper than they look and filled to the brim with water
They’ve gotten stuck in mud and quicksand and unset concrete
Only the last one was an attempt to make a lasting impression. It kind of backfired
These boots have walked through many worlds, and now they have brought me here
Living on the road again
Alone
I’m not so sure this is the life I really want
Perhaps it’s time for a new pair of shoes.
These shoes would be apricot with ½ inch heels and a shiny buckle on the outside of the ankle.
They would go well with stockings and frocks and smell faintly of rose
They’d know how to live me a normal life
They’d know how to get to a new home and take me to a stable job
How to stay safe, get things organised, pay bills and repair holes in my socks
How to have a quiet place to sleep and a shelf for my shampoo and a hook for my coat
How to open the curtains without having to check if anyone might see me and call the police
How to put letters after my name and achieve things that important people nod at approvingly
How to comb my hair and keep my space tidy and
Wash the car every week and stop hiding behind a crumbling old facade
On second thoughts, maybe I’ll just keep my trusty old boots
Written by Tjoni Johansen.
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