This poem, from my mother's childhood poetry book, Sung Under the Silver Umbrella (1936), obviously made an impression on me. I memorized it in 6th grade, when, between doodling pictures of horses in the margins of my notebooks, I doodled pictures of shoes. (And called them "shoodles.") It would not be inappropriate to consider If the Shoe Fits an homage to ffrida Wolfe. (No, she did not capitalize her first name.) I'd love to learn more about this early-century poet/writer; all I can find online is a book she co-wrote about Oriental Rugs.
CHOOSING SHOES
by ffrida Wolfe
New shoes, new shoes
Red and pink and blue shoes
Tell me, what would you choose,
If they let us buy?
Buckle shoes, bow shoes,
Pretty, pointy, toe shoes,
Strappy, cappy low shoes;
Let's have some to try.
Bright shoes, white shoes,
Dandy, dance-by-night shoes,
Perhaps a little tight shoes?
Like some? So would I!
But...
Flat shoes, fat shoes,
Stump-along-like-that shoes,
Wipe-them-on-the-mat shoes,
That's the sort we'll buy!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Expression Session: 2009
Ashley, Harry, and the gang are thrilled. So am I. Michael's coming out to the Bay Area in January to work on Fountain of Youth, a new musical about old lovers who become young again...and it changes everything. Which means, for us, some time to collaborate on our NEW SHOES! A great way to start the year.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
"I love my new shoes!"
I just finished the rewrite of The Souls of Her Feet. It’s been...how can I put this delicately? A BITCH!
Well, writing is always fun, but a good story takes some digging to come clear. Long story short, the rough draft fell flat with Michael and it caused a great disturbance in the force. (Oh, the agony of first drafts!) The emails we exchanged got way out of hand (you can't scan with tone) and we both nearly threw in the towel. Many brainstorms and prayers later, Ashley finally stepped up.
Yes, my heroine came across as a little weak in the staged reading, and this story is about her, so she really needed to blossom. She needed an "I Want" song. I gave her a chance to show who she is by assigning her an essay entitled “Queen for a Day.” As it turns out, Harry is now a lawyer, and I learned from Keith/Sherry that every drag queen needs a funny name, so his secret identity is “Carrie D’way.” Also, Jeff & Ashley are now friends, “just good friends” until she shows up at the prom. (“I can’t believe you’re wearing a dress!”)
So here I am at Peets, and I just wrote the last line. When it came to me, it rang bells. I wanted to stand up and applaud Ashley. Instead, I burst out laughing and crying into my hands, and when I looked up again people were politely trying not to stare. I wanted to say to the crowd, "someday, you'll understand!" I can’t wait to share….
Well, writing is always fun, but a good story takes some digging to come clear. Long story short, the rough draft fell flat with Michael and it caused a great disturbance in the force. (Oh, the agony of first drafts!) The emails we exchanged got way out of hand (you can't scan with tone) and we both nearly threw in the towel. Many brainstorms and prayers later, Ashley finally stepped up.
Yes, my heroine came across as a little weak in the staged reading, and this story is about her, so she really needed to blossom. She needed an "I Want" song. I gave her a chance to show who she is by assigning her an essay entitled “Queen for a Day.” As it turns out, Harry is now a lawyer, and I learned from Keith/Sherry that every drag queen needs a funny name, so his secret identity is “Carrie D’way.” Also, Jeff & Ashley are now friends, “just good friends” until she shows up at the prom. (“I can’t believe you’re wearing a dress!”)
So here I am at Peets, and I just wrote the last line. When it came to me, it rang bells. I wanted to stand up and applaud Ashley. Instead, I burst out laughing and crying into my hands, and when I looked up again people were politely trying not to stare. I wanted to say to the crowd, "someday, you'll understand!" I can’t wait to share….
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