Shoes

She didn’t cry when her child took her first step
Wearing her patent leather shoes
So shiny and black
So pretty on her feet

And she didn’t cry when her child made her first basket
Wearing a pair of sneakers
Those high top sneakers
And scored a victory for her team

And she didn’t cry when her child took her first dance
Wearing her first pair of heels
Of high heels
That marked her as a young lady

But after she was taken,
After she was gone
And there was no trace of her child,
No sign
Other than her shoes:
Her leather shoes
Her walking shoes
Her everyday shoes for an everyday girl living an everyday life
She screamed,
She yelled,
And she cried