Blue Foot

author’s note:

I don’t know if it’s the right or the left.  The picture above shows the right, so let’s go with that.


BLUE FOOT

He keeps the foot
hidden in a sock
in a shoe
and tries to forget
its existence--

but the blue shadow
follows him...

...everywhere.

People sneak sideways glances.
Suspicious,
they whisper,
“There goes Blue Foot.”

No one knows
how the foot came to be blue.
Not even Blue Foot.
Some say
he paints the foot himself
then feigns indifference--
some say
he’s perpetuated a hoax
to gain attention.

But such naysayers have a secret wish.
They want that foot for themselves;
not Blue Foot; they don’t want him.
Just his foot.

But not hidden
in a sock
in a shoe--
no, in bold view:
as bright hood ornament
or better yet
a trophy on the mantel.

© 2008, Michael R. Patton
dream steps
earnest audio