Cracked and suntanned,
Worn and wise,
These soles I walk on,
Tell no lies.

Five years my elder,
Mom’s college best friend,
Went with her everywhere,
Until the very very end.

They hold some memories,
Some of her greatest,
They have their own personality,
One I can only hope to possess.

They lived through two decades,
Studied at three colleges,
Worn while she was pregnant,
There the day I was born.

They are family arelums,
At least they seem to be,
Passed down from generation to generation,
From my mom to me.

Some say they’re “vintage”,
Others say “hipster”,
No matter what they’re called,
They’re now my best friend.