A WEIRD ONE

new red slippers 
hard caves for my feet to find
they soften with the hours
the feet have been speaking 
urging me to risk it for the sake of 
myself a firefly darting truth 
soles to felt to cork to earth 
rooted i do I feel less angry
at the tunnel the clench the churn
they were always there, they are
like the rest of my skeleton 
easing into this camaraderie 
I wouldn't wish it on us 
but at least we are in good company
compromised, discerning 
what't retrievable from banished
like my hands holding the colored glass balls 
in the decluttering man’s basement yesterday
I could have bought them for 4 dollars
and I usually would
thinking their light might
come through to tell me something
I’ve been thirsting for
but slipped from the ziplock
I knew they were not mine, not meaningful 
why crane for glint
i'm in this ground phase
feet finding firmness
hands empty