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