He wears them once. In good shape he leaves them for future generations to use. Like a Cinderella story, many try in vain. Lined around the ankles some manage to use, only for a while. Padding no good, slippage persists. Clumsy walk causes a loud discord of discourse —shoes too big to fit.
Carving epitaphs
greatness clothed in vigilance
—the price of freedom
for Poets United
note: The poem is in honour of Nelson Mandela International Day.
I love the Cinderella slipper brought together with shoes that are too big!. Clumsy, ha! Vigilance, indeed. I truly enjoyed your poem.
Wow, Khaya, what an amazing poem. A fitting tribute to Mr Mandela.
Your words are a beautiful tribute!
Well written Khaya….”shoes to big to fit”.
He is one of the greats, humble and forgiving, not easy to fill those shoes!
“Like a Cinderella story, many try in vain. ”
You got my wholehearted attention with this line
Much 🌻love
He left big shoes to fill. One of my favourite heroes.
“shoes too big to fit.”…Exactly. A wonderful homage. Love your title.
Wonderful, Khaya, and a great tribute to an amazing man. His shoes are very hard to fill.
A beautiful tribute!! An amazing poem!!! Big Hugs!
No-one will fit in his shoes but there will be others who will follow barefoot or shod that will also live, fight and die for their own people and for the whole world.
No one can learn to walk their path in the shoes of another, regardless of how magnificent said shoes might be. We can learn lessons from their steps, we can look for similar shoes to help us closer to a place of wonder and grace, but… they always have to be our shoes–we have to work for them, bleed for them, until they walk in the world our feet are standing on.
A great tribute, Khaya! I like: ‘Clumsy walk causes a loud discord of discourse —shoes too big to fit’ and the excellent haiku.
Glad you enjoyed this piece, Susan. Thank you for the inspiration.
Thank you, Therisa.
Thank you, KC!
Not easy at all, I agree. Thanks Ally for reading.
Yep, no-one can walk in another’s shoes. But each and everyone of us can make a positive contribution to the world, if we try. Much love, Gillena.🌻
My hero, too. Thanks Sherry!
Thank you, Sumana!
Thank you, Diana.🙏🏽
Many thanks, dear Stacy!
True that, Robin! Follow we all should, even if barefooted.
Thank you so much, Kim.
True that! We can always learn from the great. Follow on their footsteps. And maybe with our small acts, in our everyday lives, we could make a positive contribution.
Beautiful tribute, sis. No one can ever walk in his shoes.
What a nice tribute!
True that, no-one can ever walk in his shoes!
Thanks, Kathy!
It’s true, Madiba and the other esteemed elders have and will continue leaving shoes too difficult to fit.
Hello Khaya,,
I’m a friend of Stacy’s and I sure love this poem of yours.
Have a wonderful day,
Blue
True that! Thanks Lady for visiting me this side, as well. I appreciate.
Hi Blue! Thanks for dropping by, and for your encouraging comment. Much appreciated.