Jakey's shoes

Cleaning the Shoes

Cleaning the shoes, the sneakers, the Payless gray-blue velcros
of my boy, my son, my Jakey.
We were outside in the garden watering plants,
planting seedlings in bigger pots, handling warm, loamy compost
spraying the hose to water garden vegetables
he followed me around, tried to wet his hands, his face,
slipped down the dirt bank on his butt, mud on his cheeks
We sprayed off his hands
I kept him away from spiders and rusty nails under rocks and bricks
water-stained wood planks and pallets
I had to remove his shoes
dirt between the grooves
what a joy to clean out with a toothpick and a rag
my boy’s favorite shoes

nate warner 5-1-09