She didn’t cry when her child took her first step,
wearing her patent leather shoes,
So shiny and black, so pretty on her feet.

And didn’t cry when her child made her first basket,
wearing a pair of sneakers--those high top sneakers,
and scored a victory for her team.

And she didn’t cry when her child took her first dance,
wearing her first pair of high heels,
which marked her as a young lady.

But after she was taken, and after she was gone,
and there was no trace of her child,
no sign, other than her shoes:

Her leather shoes, walking shoes,
Her everyday shoes for an everyday girl living an everyday life,
She screamed,
She yelled,
And she cried.