My boots

Whether or not they're steel toed, soft toed, ankle height, or even shin height

I wear them not because of work, or school, or even for fashion

My boots make me feel strong

Despite being told I was weak and was treated as such

 

I love to walk on wooden floors to hear the thudding of my boots

To walk up stairs and have everyone look my way

To be able to walk on any terrain and not have to worry about anything

And to have them make me feel taller than most

 

When I used to walk the halls of grade, middle, and high school

No one but my few friends would even give me the time of day

Everyone would shove me out of the way on stairs

And I would always have to worry about wet grass or mud when walking across campus

But not anymore

Everyone hears my boots when I walk in any hall

No one gets in my way when I use stairs because of the stomping 

And I couldn't care less about mud, grass, dirt, or even the occasional broken glass

 

I feel strong

I feel tall

I feel respected

Yet I still feel like I am weak

I am weak because I need my boots for confidence

I need them for self esteem

And I need them to not be pushed around

 

Hopefully one day I won't need my boots for this

But for now,

I think it's time for new laces