canvas shoes in Kinshasa

The canvas shoes in Kinshasa

Once when the time was right
A sweet girl had her picture taken
because she was seven years old
and in her mind, almost a grown-up
Dressed in a white blouse and skirt
pressing a pair of white canvas shoes
to her chest
New and not worn by anyone,
hers alone, she had refused to put
them on, they were going to last
forever and ever.
little girls to grow, and one day, she
was a beautiful young woman and
married the man she desired
Five children they had, but tragedy
struck, she became a widow
Africa was a restless place
 she had
to leave her farm and memories
no one can ever take away.
She lived to be old when she died
her shoes from the glorious past
was found wrapped in silk paper