2007 11 Shoes

Shoes

On a recent trip to Korea I saw an astounding array of shoes on display in a street market. They are pictured here:








This exhibit made me think of the huge variety of products available in the modern world and the ramifications of this choice in our lives.

Shoes with bows,
Shoes with toes,
Shoes with lace,
Shoes to race.

Shoes with style,
Shoes beguile,
Shoes of suede,
Shoes hand made.

Shoes for climbing,
Shoes for shining,
Shoes to cobble,
Shoes to wobble.

Shoes orthotic,
Shoes exotic,
Shoes to dance,
Shoes to prance.

Shoes with heels,
Shoes to kneel,
Shoes for boating,
Shoes for goating.

Shoes for golfing.
Shoes for bowling,
Shoes for welding,
Shoes for hunting,

Shoes for hiking.
Shoes for biking,
Shoes for tennis,
Shoes for Dennis.


Sandals, clogs and other wear,
Polished blacks or scruffy gear,
Army boots and football cleats
Sprinters shoes for fast track meets.

So you see, shoes protect our feet, but they also decorate and provide individuality. Some in this world go without shoes. But shoes make life interesting. Children have a fascination with them. The right shoes make them feel big, important, fast and able to jump and run.

Ladies tend to have more shoes than men. They have to match that special outfit. They have to emphasize the wiggle of the hips. They have to show off the shape of the calf and the all-important toenail polish. And most importantly, they must be different each time they are displayed in public. Sometimes shoes cause us problems. Blisters, corns and athletes foot fungus are just a few of the problems shoes give us. Nevertheless, they’re not going away soon. The benefits still seem to outweigh the problems.

©Frank Bliss 2007 All rights reserved
November, 2007