Try These
An Ekphrastic Sonnet
"A Pair of Shoes," Vincent van Gogh, 1886
How carefully some choose the right footwear
Occasion, mood, height, weight, color and style
Collapse the search parameters; they care
And with each detail, wish to eyes beguile
This process is much easier for some
Who do not have a wide array of choice
They must preserve and savor every crumb
The wealthy chorus is, for them, one voice
Summer or winter, morning, noon or dusk
These humans must wear but one pair of shoes
Until each one is reduced to a husk
And between bread and wardrobe they must choose
Making immortal this humble footwear
This image should move us to worlds compare
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About the Creator
D. J. Reddall
I write because my time is limited and my imagination is not.
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insight
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Comments (23)
This one is great, I guess it's true what they say... You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes 😁
Well, you've done it again, DJ! A really great one here!
I loved your use of the image to separate the poem. Beautifully written, wonderfully crafted. Great work!
Congratulations on top story!
Shoes are a witty metaphor, some people really put a lot of effort into choosing the right shoes. For me, what matters is that they should match in color with my outfit, usually keeping it simple. And they should be comfy and of good quality.
Superbly-crafted poem and congrats on Top Story!!!
Congrats on Top Story!
Well deserved Top Story! Love the rhythm, rhyme and especially the final line.
Congrats on Top Story. While I am aware the thought process that potentially goes into choosing a pair of shoes, I never actually considered it so deeply.
I'll never understand the level of thought that some people put into their clothes/footwear. I take the minimal effort approach to my wardrobe lol
This made me reflect with such gratitude. Beautifully done, and I love the van Gogh image. Never quite saw it this way before.
Sage words there, and I love the step stanza breaks. Step after step until the halting end.
Back to say congrats on top story!!💝🥳🎉🥳🎉💝
Congratulations on your top story.
oops, forgot to say congrats on TS!!
We in the West have overabundance, and others have very little, especially those in countries where war and warlords is a constant.
I only have one pair 😅 I come from a poor family so I always choose food over wardrobe. Loved your poem! Congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Congratulations on top story
Yes, I agree. I have so many shoes that I don't know what to do with them! I love your words.
This is so thought-provoking. Really well done.
Yes, fashion or function? Should really only be function, eh?
So humbling; gracefully written. Everyone should read this. Approved to these arrogant times.
Incredible, I Love the line "And between bread and wardrobe they must choose" Love your poem!! 💌