Shiny Red Wellies

At the beginning of December
your first year was over;
you had found your feet,
unsteady as yet
but eager to make
a quick escape.

You wanted to chase flakes
that fell from the sky,
fluttered on your eye lashes
and kissed your cheeks,
even after a week
when snow rose to the roof,
icicles hung from the ceiling
and frost left its breath
inside the windows.

As soon as I stood you
in those shiny red Wellington boots,
too big for your tiny toes,
you loved them,
holding you steady in the snow,
bright against the blanket of white
covering the garden, marked only
by the secret words
left by birds.

Kim M. Russell, 8th December 2016

My response to Imaginary Garden with real Toads: Bits of Inspiration ~ Shoes

Today Susie has been sitting at her computer contemplating shoes, for which, she says, she has inherited her mother’s passion. There are many reasons why we choose our shoes: athletics, dress, work, vanity; and, if we looked at our collections of shoes, we would remember where and why we bought each pair. She has also shared two inspiring poems about shoes. The challenge is to write about shoes. It could be a favourite pair, hated pair, father’s shoes, mother’s shoes. We should go wherever our shoes take us, as long as the poem is a new one.

Also linked to dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Live on 9th December 2023

61 thoughts on “Shiny Red Wellies”

  2. You wanted to chase flakes that fell from the sky,
    fluttered on your eye lashes and kissed your cheeks,
    even after a week when snow rose to the roof,
    icicles hung from the ceiling and frost left its breath
    inside the windows.

    Sigh..❤️ the images woven here are to die for! Beautifully penned!

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  21. Lovely memories, beautifully told KIm – there is much I renated here with from raising my own and helping to raise my young grandkids – great to have such memories refreshed in this way – thank you….

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    1. Thank you Dianne. It was lovely to see and hear you at OLN live. Only one more week and we break up for a two-week holiday. I look forward to more poetry before the break. See you on the poetry trail soon! 😊

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  24. Hi Kim — I’ve really enjoyed the OLN Live Thursdays, sorry to hear they’re going away. Reading and contributing to the poetry of the d’verse online community has been wonderful, and I hope I am able to in the new year… it is my intention — when possible. Kathy comes home this Wednesday, and it appears we will be rejoining her battle, so my writing may be less frequent into the future — we will see what presents itself, as I am also dealing with my own issues. This is my 20th year posting poetry online, across a number of wonderful organized sites… and it is a joy I will not allow myself to completely abandon. I am sending this message to those in this dVerse community to whom I am most drawn, and who have shown me consistent kindness. Happy holiday to you my friend. You are a pleasure to read. ✌🏼🫶🏼

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    1. Thank you so much, Rob. I wish you and Kathy a wonderful Christmas, and I hope the New Year brings you joy and good health. I look forward to reading more of your poetry soon.

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  26. Those shiny, red boots, the snow, the child, and “the secret words
    left by birds”–how could I not love this poem, Kim? It’s so evocative.
    It makes me remember my daughter, younger child, in rain boots splashing in the puddles.
    I hope you’ve shared this one with your daughter. 💙

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