Wednesday, February 20, 2008

rubber boots


A poem for this time of year on our wind-battered, warm-frozen, earth broken, ice-spliced island:

Rubber Boots, A Love Story

They sing of fish guts, cow paddies,
and mud puddles; the places you've been.
They embrace the back of your knees, calves
held in the whoosh and slap, a lullaby
in this season of leaving.
An antidote to empty coat hangers,

they wait for you like dogs
at the back door.

by Bren Simmers [from Arc Poetry Magazine]

8 comments:

Michael said...

I once had a job in northern Quebec where I spent a summer in rubber boots. By summer's end I'd taken all the hair off my calves thanks to the chaffing of my rubber boots. It never really grew back. Sometimes love can really change a person!

The expression "ice-spliced"? Wonderful! Hoping you too can feel spring's a comin'...

Alison Dyer said...

I grew up in wellies. In southern England, they were also our winter boots (with plastic bag liners)! Now, I wear them most of the summer in the Cove. I like footwear one can slip in and out of easily. Forget crocs (never bought a pair). I need something that holds up in mud, water, gluck and various elements.

As for spring. It's far too early for here. Although we're in a mild spell and rain has withered the snow to show pockets of dog shit and cig butt ends. I'd prefer snow until at least May. Nothing happens before that here anyway.

clairesgarden said...

sh yes, the lovely aroma of welly boots!
I tend not to wear mine much now as the fallen arches in my feet need a bit more support. they do come in ots of trendy colours and patterns so I might be tmpted. . .

Alison Dyer said...

yes, even good old wellies have been taken over by fashion. however, i'm tempted to get a pair that fishermen use - tall & well lined for cold winters. my 11-yr-old Sorels have to retire sometime!

Anonymous said...

I am from Falmouth, MA...a perennial farmer and wear a pair of snug storm rubbers or high top rubbers over my leather work boots or at other times a pair of rubber boots (wellies). As a youngster, I remember having to wear rubbers to school on them cloudy days or what had been predicted to be a rainy day that turned out sunny. I did feel foolish then and the center of other peoples attention...but now, I don't mind making a fashion statement no matter where I go.

Alison Dyer said...

thanks Gardenman for dropping by. i think there's a definite subculture of rubber boot (wellie) lovers out there.. and not only the 'granola' lovers! the rubber boot (as scarecrow) also inspired a new poem this summer which i may post at some point.

just wondering what the high top rubbers look like - that fit over work boots?
a

Anonymous said...

High Top rubbers over a pair of leather boots would look similar to the gals that wear Tingley sandal rubbers over the leather riding boots to keep the manure from messing up their nice shine. These High Tops rubbers are often worn here in the states by the postal delivery folk.

These High Tops are manufactured by Tingley and can always be found on Ebay, along with other style of rubbers to be worn over the shoe.

Anonymous said...

I would just like to take time too thank the posters for doing what you do and making the community what it is im a long time reader and first time poster so i just wanted to say thanks.