The Burning Soles of My Feet

Dublin Core

Description

A poem by Callie Matthews

Creator

Date Available

2022

Subject

Months--Poetry
Poetry

Language

en-US

Type

text

Format

Identifier

Matthews_Burning Soles.jpg
Matthews_Burning Soles.pdf

Is Part Of

Source

Rights

Copyright protected by Callie Matthews. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required.

Scripto

Transcription

Note on transcription: This transcription may not reflect the poetic form established by the poet. Please refer to the PDF file of this poem available in the Files section for proper formatting.

The Burning Soles of My Feet

Today I sat beneath the sun
and let its teeth sink into my outstretched legs,
my arms tucked beneath my back in shadow.

Today I reached for the endless sky—
fingers outstretched in all of their insatiable greed—
and imagined myself taking off my shoes and
stepping into the sky’s cool
blue body like a pool
meant for swimming.

Today I watched timid green leaves
bask in a golden sunset,
a school of pink-stained clouds swimming above
my head as I eyed haphazard bumblebees
and imagined a place unknown.

Today I pulled off my shoes,
my socks,
and stepped into the sky—
burning the soles of my feet
unexpectedly
in the melting pool of sun while
searching for a place
I’ll never find.

Files

Matthews_Burning Soles.jpg
Matthews_Burning Soles.pdf

Collection

Citation

Callie Matthews, “The Burning Soles of My Feet,” Mississippi State University Libraries, accessed December 22, 2024, https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/items/show/2277.

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  1. Matthews_Burning Soles.jpg
  2. Matthews_Burning Soles.pdf