Challenge Photo from Toni Cross
i must admit
i was quite surprised
to see her there
bare feet residing
under a table twice her size
on a carpet of worn out grass
but
she appeared at ease
in this impromptu marketplace
offering only one item
to wanderers of this sidewalk
a pair of shoes
the finest
she had ever worn
according to the sales rep.
my inquiry into why
she would sell
such a fine personal item
was greeted with a smile
and carefully chosen words
like
any good salesperson
without bothering you with all the details
i can summarize it like this
daddy
lost job
daddy
sad
no money for food
wanted to help
love
daddy
so
i paid twenty dollars
for the shoelaces
and told her
to take the shoes home
just in case
things got
worse
looks like
things got
better
Read Between the Minds 
Yes. To be in one’s shoes. I know the feeling. Gosh!
Love this one. It’s a pure state of mind, I imagine in her.
Oh, I do hope things got much, much better 🙂
Philanthrophy and respect; I like it.
Thank you, lovely poem. x
So many children like the one you described roaming the streets of our country…
That was such a sad-sweet story…
Loved the child’s sales pitch… how innocent and sweet of her!!
Very well done, Charles… (and here, I let out a tear or two)… kids are just fantastic!!
awh. tender.
i like it.
(new little poem is up below the photos:
http://batsandbows.wordpress.com/2010/08/24/garden-guardian/)
WordPress should make a “LOVE” button to go next to the like button. Good job, Charles!
for the love of her life, daddy
who could do nothing else, but make the love of his life, daughter
feel special, not by the shoes she wore, but by the love that her love extended to fill his shoes
startling photo, but your words made the story behind it, a keepsake! Nice Work, Charles! -Denise
A very touching story poem 🙂
Remarkable poem and story. the build up is perfect as far as your writing style. the human side unbearably raw. god bless the person(you the write?) that paid 20 dollars for the shoelaces and left her the shoes and story yet to profit from. this touched me in a insane way, and made me want to be a better person….
this really touched me – the willingness of the child to help in the only way she knew, the twofold gift of the ‘buyer’ of the shoes… leaves me with a warm feeling
nice storypome. ending with the shoes is strong. good work.
Always impressed by the works a challenge can bring.
Great pitch–and a story at once sad, but also touching. Ah, the purity and the sweetness of children…a pity the world so strikes it from us as we grow.
One of the most touching poems I’ve read in my 16 years. Wonderful work,
–Classic
Don’t have the words to tell you how good this piece is 🙂 Its simple and yet conveys so much 🙂 Loved it
Damn – excellent. And very real. So sad.
We assume your title is a play on “Gift of the Magi”?
This is so very touching. The brilliance of your words shines through as strong as the message you are portraying. A wonderful read!
Thank you! Chloe
Very vivid.
OMg thats so sweet. And so well written. Did that really happen? Is that a picture you took? Reminds me when I paid a homeless guy 20 bucks to take my picture in New York coming back from working at the carnival. But I bet your 20 dollars was a whole lot more. You’re an angel!
Sweet poem. Fine sentiment. Especially enjoy these challenges you set up, Charles.
Sometimes kids like us grow up. Sometimes we don’t. I’m glad you see the people most other miss and proudly display their spiritual relevance. You’re a good soul slpmartin, I hope you never stop writing the truth you see because one good voice is louder than a year of silence. 🙂
Yes – the sad part is this is not fiction
Love the happy ending with the shoelaces
moon smiles
this is too beautiful. full of tenderness and beauty.
I could really see that little girl. great imagery here