The Sand Hill Review                           http://www.sandhillreview.org          2004

 

Beach Shoes

 

I have come to love

even your beach shoes

and take care to knock

 

all the sand out of both.

Each grain a miracle

which might cause torment.

 

From my well watered edge,

I used to think

all this tenderness

 

was the fault,

yes fault of a finicky beginning

encased in shoes.

 

Now I know

the vex of your High Desert.

How its heart stop rattle

 

of constant snakes,

its wicked cactus spines,

forbade bare feet

 

I am here

to protect

your tenderness.

 

Louise Grassi Whitney