The Wedding Boots
Her wedding remembrance did not focus on a fancy dress
made of satin, lace, pearls, brocade woven fabric.
It was not rooted in a fluffy veil with an elegant train
that swept down the aisle of the cathedral.
Her remembrance was a pair of boots, lush leather
the brown of milk chocolate, inside zipper slipped up to her knees,
the softest touch, hugging her legs as an embrace much like his.
The boots, an unexpected gift from him.
She mentioned she always wanted to get married in riding boots,
described the brown expensive leather, sweet earthy smell,
an ankle buckle, the tightness of the fit.
They appeared one day as if made just for her.
Those brown treasures stayed with her for many years,
worn through mud and rain, snow and sap from the pine trees
that circled their cabin. She tried to patch them with each crack,
each split, until they fell apart like his love for her.
19 thoughts on "The Wedding Boots"
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love the negation in the first stanza, the fine details about the boots, and the unexpected last line
Thank you for noticing the negation in the first stanza. I appreciate your kind words.
Beautiful, sad story. I can see and touch those boots.
Oh, I am pleased the reality of the boots came through. Thank you for your kind words.
Oh, that ending. My heart just ached for her and those well-loved boots.
Such an incredible poem!
What a validating comment. I appreciate it. I was not sure of the effectiveness of this poem, and your words give me confidence.
Lush in detail and love and then that hard, heartbreaking last line.
Thank you for such kind words. I am pleased the details came though.
Oh, that description in the third stanza is amazing – from the smell to the buckle and the tight fit!
Thank you for highlighting the third stanza. Much appreciated.
Beautiful poem. And I was not expecting that turn at the end. Sometimes bad things happen to beautiful things, I suppose. That’s life. Well done capturing that, Virginia!
I appreciate your kind and supportive words about the poem, as well as your insight into life’s changes.
Magic turned this into a poem! We fell in love with those boots as much as you did. Love how you lull us into the unexpected ending.
Such kind and supportive insight. I am pleased that the boots made an impression.
So sad, yet so poignant! I like “hugging her legs as an embrace much like his” as a very sensual line. And as the others say, was not expecting the ending. Beautiful nevertheless.
Such kind and supportive words. I appreciate your insight into the dichotomy of the poem.
Ouch! This poetic closure stung! “Her remembrance was a pair of boots” is so beautiful and nostalgic- your imagery so rich- and his love for her is evident. You lead up to this surprise twist so well, making the sting land especially hard. WONDERFUL poem.
Thanks so much for your kind and supportive words. You offer a lot of encouragement.
Such an interesting and lovely metaphor for the way she tended the boots though they be worn and crack. Their value remained for her…I love her ability to see past the loss of the superficial shine.