School Shoes

I stood alone In a world of laughter
friends playful glee at my bare feet
my eyes fixed envious on my friends
flaunting their gleaming school shoes

they laughed at my bare feet
as tears streamed down my face
everyday as I walked to school
it was a lonely place

teachers turned a blind eye
knowing my family didn't care
if we were schooled or not
if shoes be the caveat, stay home

my classmates laughed and demeaned
sometimes stamping on my bare toes
school was important to me for the books
so I sobbed in my heart each day

a twist unforeseen fate had a plan
the headmaster's transfer to another school
he sent a box through my brother
the headmaster's treasures were mine

Within the box books aplenty
of strong man and cats, princesses and magic
tales of adventures from far away land
happiness suffused my thin frame

and wonders Cinderella's godmother
paled to my headmaster's generosity
for among those boundless tales,
a pair of white school shoes glimmered

With trembling hands I touched them
tears down my cheeks, smile on my lips
I slipped them on and how it fitted
snug as if it was made for me

I arose feeling the clown cape slide
I walked confident in my stride
no more shall they laugh and deride
the colour of my mud caked feet

I walked with pride, my steps so sure
into the classrooms and silence ensued
I was no longer defined by what I lacked
but through the subjects that I passed

the laughter faded and the tears subsided
my white school shoes was a platform
for me to stand tall and strong
and face the tide of childhood tribulations.