My Grandmother's Shoes {poetry for lent}

Diana Meakem is a senior creative writing major at Taylor.  I heard her read this poem at her capstone project presentation last week.  The last two lines killed me. And that was the moment I realized that I wanted to read and write poetry for Lent.  

 I'm thankful Diana has allowed me to share this poem with you here.

My Grandmother's Shoes

by diana meakem

I needed new shoes, back

when my feet grew fast as radishes.

In my grandmother's room, a thread

of light ran between the bed and closet.

Someone's been here. Nicotine seeped

from rows of crushed clothes, mixed

with scents of crab, salt, medicine—

then my mother said, "Here,"

handing me the narrow Keds.

"She wouldn't mind."

I didn't know until then

how heavy a pair of shoes can be.