Feet by Susan Tepper

Come this season 

your feet, cracked

and worn down

cannot be traded for

corn or trinkets.

No such comaraderie

cross-legged

around low fires

this season.

In any bargain who would 

accept such feet?

You walked possibly 

the exact route

repeating 

year in / year out.

An unprepossessing

landscape—

‘til there wasn’t a pouch 

of fat on your body;

starved to unforgiving.

Bones creaked when bending

to rub your feet.

Here’s the thing: 

A time slot is

destined to be pre-paid.

Susan Tepper is the author of nine published books of fiction and poetry.  Her most recent titles are CONFESS (poetry published by Cervena Barva Press, 2020) and the road novel WHAT DRIVES MEN (Wilderness House Press, 2019).  Tepper has received many honors and awards.  She’s a native  ) New Yorker.  www.susantepper.com