boots by Rick Mobbs; poem by Art Predator
there were shoes on this trail
first one tennis shoe
a running shoe actually
a left left behind
along the cottonwood lakes trail above 10000′
a lonely place for a left shoe
someone placed it neatly on a rock
as if its owner might jog back for it
too big for me
i keep walking
next a flip flop
a large flip flop
a giant flip flop
so big that its leaving of
its owner had to be noticed
on a rock on the right side of the trail
it sits
an arrow it
points downhill
waits
a river rests still where it landed
who said that? why?
one time hiking north hungry
post bear dinner taking
we found
three small yellow crook necked squash
apologizing to the deer
we cooked them in our soup
grateful to whoever it was
who grew them
who left them along the creek
in the high sierra
another flip flop found
this one small:
why bring a flip flop for a child?
after hiking, this small foot should wear
more, something warm, something to protect toes from
stubbing, feet from mosquitoes
years ago we found a tiny leather sandle
on the Pacific Crest Trail
we were sure it belonged to Jesus
we picked it up and attached it to a pack
carried it across Oregon
carried it across Washington
figured one day we’d catch up with the baby Jesus
return his sandle to Mary
instead we found Canada
and one day lost the shoe
a river shoe my size is lost
out on the trail to North Dome in Yosemite
did someone find it–
gracefully place it on a rock or log
leave it there for me to never find
did someone claim it like i did this green shirt
i have just taken from the line
folded and placed with my clothes
camp kern it says 1996
bald eagle’s yellow talons clasp a tree branch
a sequia behind it rising up against sierra flanks
its mouth open–
hello hello hello
For other poems with paintings check out readwritepoem. For other poems, take a ride on the poetry train. For more stories about hiking in the west, check out other posts in this series (for example, Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which are previous, and Days 8, 9 and 10 still to come!)
art predator 
Fascinating story! Just this morning I drove past a park and spied a pair of lonely shoes on a boundary rail.
I enjoyed this. Your imagination ranged far and wide from the initial image. As it should be.
By the way, your link isn’t working on the prompt site.
Great structure of images here. This gets at that mixed sense of isolation and the presence of others one has on a hiking trail. I love your voice here too.
The way that shoes shape themselves to the wearer leaves them such intimate reminders of humanity and personality when found upon the trail. Who came this way? Why? When? For what purpose and what became of them? Thank you for the story and for doing something with this neglected painting.
isn’t it funny, Brad, how when someone points something out, we start seeing it everywhere–like shoes?
thanks, Anthony, for letting me know about my link trouble–I went back and added another comment to fix it i hope.
yes, nathan, so often we have this false sense of being alone yet we are surrounded by the traffic of others in the form of footrpints, paths, shoes, squash, you name it…
thanks, rick–i love this painting so much–i hate to think of it as neglected! maybe i should acquire it somehow! btw, how’s that baby?? she learning to cry yet?
That is a cool walking poem. Shoes reflecting souls. Great rhythm and a great idea.
I love this:
‘a left left behind’
But this really got me:
‘years ago we found a tiny leather sandle
on the Pacific Crest Trail
we were sure it belonged to Jesus
we picked it up and attached it to a pack
carried it across Oregon
carried it across Washington
figured one day we’d catch up with the baby Jesus
return his sandle to Mary
instead we found Canada
and one day lost the shoe’
LOVE that.
You make vivid the musings we have about those lost items, also make them more interesting because they were found in places where not so many people go. Nice!
A.P. baby is doing great! we all are. could use a little more sleep but that’s a small price to pay for this joy and amazement.
I’ll put your name on the painting. EZ payment plan. We’ll talk when things slow down. Remind me if necessary please.