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.
Glad you enjoyed this piece, Susan. Thank you for the inspiration.
Wow, Khaya, what an amazing poem. A fitting tribute to Mr Mandela.
Thank you, Therisa.
Your words are a beautiful tribute!
Thank you, KC!
Well written Khaya….”shoes to big to fit”.
He is one of the greats, humble and forgiving, not easy to fill those shoes!
Not easy at all, I agree. Thanks Ally for reading.
“Like a Cinderella story, many try in vain. ”
You got my wholehearted attention with this line
Much 🌻love
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.🌻
He left big shoes to fill. One of my favourite heroes.
My hero, too. Thanks Sherry!
“shoes too big to fit.”…Exactly. A wonderful homage. Love your title.
Thank you, Sumana!
Wonderful, Khaya, and a great tribute to an amazing man. His shoes are very hard to fill.
Thank you, Diana.🙏🏽
A beautiful tribute!! An amazing poem!!! Big Hugs!
Many thanks, dear Stacy!
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.
True that, Robin! Follow we all should, even if barefooted.
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.
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.
A great tribute, Khaya! I like: ‘Clumsy walk causes a loud discord of discourse —shoes too big to fit’ and the excellent haiku.
Thank you so much, Kim.
Beautiful tribute, sis. No one can ever walk in his shoes.
True that, no-one can ever walk in his shoes!
What a nice tribute!
Thanks, Kathy!
It’s true, Madiba and the other esteemed elders have and will continue leaving shoes too difficult to fit.
True that! Thanks Lady for visiting me this side, as well. I appreciate.
Hello Khaya,,
I’m a friend of Stacy’s and I sure love this poem of yours.
Have a wonderful day,
Blue
Hi Blue! Thanks for dropping by, and for your encouraging comment. Much appreciated.