Evie Alloy

Evie Alloy lives with her husband in Aptos, California in a cozy home with a view of apple orchards. Despite her love-affair with food, she recently lost 29 pounds on the Weight Watcher program this past year. Her poems have been published in the Porter Gulch Review.

My Last Pair of High Heeled Shoes

The shoebox is way on top
Of the clothes closet
Other shoeboxes piled on top
I reach up and carefully
Slowly ease the box out
From the bottom.

It slides out and the other
Boxes fall down into its place.

These are my last pair of high heeled shoes
Two inches high
Dark brown, thick stylish heel, squared off toe.

I remember my 20’s when I had
Long slender legs, wore short skirts,
Had boyfriend after boyfriend pursuing me
Ahhhh, those were the days
Of innocent youth, school days, love on my mind
When life was simple; divorced at 25

The 30’s follow
A failed engagement
Time clock calling out for babies
Body still beautiful
Mind still hopeful
Career, marriage and baby still realistic goals.

The 40’s arrive with a second marriage
The body starts to change
To sag, to flab
Work harder, see less results
Go on a diet, gain weight
Still no baby, only a husband.

Now the 50’s are here
And this one last pair
Of high heeled shoes remain
One last chance to feel younger
More beautiful again
I slowly slide the shoebox back to the bottom of the stack.

I cannot bear to give away my last pair of high heeled shoes
Even if I never wear them again.

As long as I keep them
There is still hope.