“Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that who cares? He’s a mile away and you’ve got his shoes!” ― Billy Connolly
To brag of blisters
and compassion that’s measured
in philanthropic goodness;
paying off and pretending
to sleep well at night,
while you’re blessed enough
to own your own pair of shoes
might be hypocrisy but
at least it pays for his meal.
For Marian at toads wanting us to write about shoes.
—
April 27, 2017
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Living on the equator but longing for snow
Passion for writing ignites my soul's momentum
A journey through the seasons with two adopted whippets, a poet and a camera
Hoping to inspire the world one word at a time.
2 years, mental illness, bucketlist
Meditations from the Midwest
So true… I got loads of shoes, but I still try to walk in someone else’s as much as possible.
You can’t go wrong with Billy Connolly philosophy – and I love that image, Bjorn!
To own a pair of shoes then complain of the blisters, when so many thousands cannot afford the luxury… Such a humbling poem, Bjorn.
I love the wisdom and depth in this poem, Bjorn 🙂 Beautifully done.
The corollary of that empathetic proverb being, perhaps: I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes – until I met a man who had no feet.
“To brag of blisters” is just a killer start for a poem. LOVE.
I agree.
Ha! Yes, there is that.
There are some shoes that I wouldn’t wish to walk in. Athletes foot?
..
Oy, that picture gives me the creeps. But your poems makes a cogent point that I really appreciate.
*poem (argh)
A blowhard philanthropist is much better than a stingy blowhard! We all have our hypocrisies but great to still try–this is what the poem meant to me and very interesting sentiment. Hope you are feeling better. k.
Thoughtful…..and what a great image that is, too!
Wow…