Pointe Shoes

These shoes I now despise
Were my dream for most of my life.
I used to think they could make me fly,
But now, gosh, I think I would die.
These shoes ruined my feet,
Now they’re battered and bruised.
I really regret striving
To wear these shoes.

Although they are painful
I should not complain,
For these shoes are special
In their own unique way.
To walk on your toes is every girl’s dream,
But in real life they are not what they seem.
To walk on your toes
Takes years of determination,
That’s a lot of effort,
Not guaranteeing a celebration.
Now you know how hard I had to work,
Just for a pair of shoes.

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This poem was highly commended for Poetry Object 2013

Judge's notes:
This narrator takes a critical look at her object, which used to represent her daydreams of being a dancer, but now represent the pain of frustrated ambition. The story is dramatically interesting, and it fits the symbol of a scuffed pair of pointe shoes perfectly.

~ Rachael Briggs, Judge, Poetry Object 2013