Shoes I Stood In

The last time I stood in these shoes

I was a much younger man.

I still believed in attainable horizons

And the possibility of love.

The last time I stood in these shoes

I believed the worst pain

Life could offer was a hard fist

In a soft gut.

The last time I stood in these shoes

I could still blush

When a pretty girl whispered

A few filthy suggestions.

The last time I stood in these shoes

I could chase the sun down

And the moon rise

On nothing but pork skins and Swisher Sweets.

Son, the last time I stood in these shoes

I still believed it was impossible for me

To shuck a blade

And peel the core out of a fool like you.

But I’m a full grown man now

And damn few horizons are attainable

A fist in the gut is the least of pains

Pretty girls say the vilest things

I let others do the driving these days

And a blade shucks as easily as corn.

Things changed as I grew older.

I wear boots now

Hoping they'll make a difference

In the outcome.