My feet
Are banged up, sore, bruised,
and sometimes (after a stroll in my art studio) stained by paints
I feel them burning from dryness, from neglect
I see scars and bruises and all the stories they could tell
The stories of the miles I have walked, the adventures I have lived, and the places I have been
The challenges, the obstacles, and the struggles I have faced
They’ve gotten callouses
from wearing heals,
from standing too long,
from wearing shoes that are too small, to shoes that are soaked through,
from walking for hours, for days, for years
They’ve been bruised from stepping on a nail,
They ached from walking on gravel
from walking barefoot so many times
I’ve felt my skin burn as I walked on hot pavement
I’ve had sand, dirt and grass between my toes
from roaming beaches, deserts, gardens, and fields
I’ve ran through grassy fields, and slipped on mushroom patches
I’ve dipped my toes in puddles, streams, lakes, and oceans
My toes have been broken, my feet have been bruised,
they’ve bled, but most importantly, they’ve healed

