Correction/Apology : FOR SALE : Baby Shoes Never Worn
I met the man who placed the ad
“For Sale: Baby Shoes Never Worn”
He said it was surely ignorant
Not considering those in mourn
He didn’t understand the gravity
Of those who walked this fate
Or those who walked a barren path
To be locked behind the gate
Let me explain.
One night they all were at the pub
One pint, two pints then more
As arrogance was rising
Frothing to raise their scores
Then He slurred, “I bet you lot I’ll write the shortest story ever wrote!”
“Haha! Ten bucks!” They jeered,
“You’ve always fancied that you’re the GOAT!”
So He picked up the paper and flipped it open
And there it stared right back
He said, “The Want Ads, couldn’t be more perfect…
To win this bet quick, quack!”
So He wrote it fast, less than a minute
From the shallows of his mind
You see He didn’t really think too much
He was the one-eyed betting kind
Then He read it loud, He read it proud
While the whole pub turned to hear
“What a genius! Too right mate!” They said…
“Get that GOAT another beer!”
It made imperfect-perfect sense
It was a tidy piece of prose
Again no-one was left thinking
How it would affect the grief of those
So after all was said and done
And the years had passed away
Something quite peculiar happened to me
And I’ll admit … I’m reluctant to say
The other night I had a dream
A perception of the absurd
There I met Him in his prime
And these were his exact words…
“Hello … I must apologise
You see, I’ve been a bit restricted
Please accept my sincere and loving thoughts
To those I have inflicted.”
“See “The Baby Shoes” was just a bet
Of ego … not ill intention
I never felt the need to explain
Until it gathered the wrongs in mention.”
“Please take that ad and place it again
But this time with an apology slash correction.
Write a poem with a few swell words
To draw the right attention.”
“See where I am we have the time
To sit and contemplate.
Working through the lessons of life
To one day graduate.”
“Here life’s indiscretions are serious
Fait accompli of the now.
What we think or say or do
Will affect the earthly Tao.”
“So again I’m sorry for any sadness I’ve caused
I was thoughtless in the play.
I will seek forgiveness forevermore
Sincerely … ”
And that was it, that’s all I heard
I woke with a choke and a gasp
It was surreal, curious and marvellous
And still difficult for me to grasp
Yet so...
“Apology/ Correction: For Sale: Baby Shoes Never Worn”
Is a poem of Divine Intervention
And the thoughtful grace of a thoughtful soul
In His journey of thoughtful intentions
Original work by Jodie Eden Law © Copyright 2013-2025 Jodie Eden Law. All rights reserved.