Old Shoes

Inspired by the man in black and his song "I been Everywhere".

Old Shoes 

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

"People call me wild. Not really though, I'm not. I guess I've never been normal, not what you call Establishment. I'm country." -Johnny Cash

These old shoes have walked many a mile

Found simple pleasures in a country smile

Have walked the backwoods of Mississippi 

Took me to shacks with Moonshine and whisky 

Walked the black tar streets of Kalamazoo 

Brought me to Hollywood and Timbuctoo

Heard Angels sing on the Rocky Mountain High

Found Southern grace in a red Georgia sky

Lost my favorite leather wallet in New Mexico 

Left a piece of my heart in old San Francisco 

Danced in the streets of New Orleans 

Found love in the arms of a creole Queen 

These old shoes have seen their better days

Have always stayed faithful towards my rugged ways

Love has come and gone but one thing stays the same

These old shoes bring me home again.

Author's Note

Thank you for taking the time to read this work. It's greatly appreciated. Feel free to comment and leave your thoughts.

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Big fan of Johnny Cash, Carlos. Loved the movie about him and his wife June Carter. They made an interesting couple to say the least.

You call this post a poem, though I hear lyrics all the way through. Not only that I can hear Johnny Cash's gravelly voice singing along. You have my approval rating here. Old Shoes is a hit with me.

Chris

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

You truly are undeniably a Cash fan. I had just recently come upon a video and in the background was playing the song Hurt sung by the man in black himself. As soon as I heard that voice I could hear him in my mind telling me about ol' shoes while he strummed an beaten up acoustic yahmaha guitar. His low deep gravel voice was between lyrical and conversational tone. And it was haunting in its peacefulness. I had never experienced anything like this before where it was so clearly him talking singing in my head. It left me with an eerie peace when it was all done. Only one other piece of writing made me feel this way but this was far stronger a sensation of soulful calm. Johnny Cash just had that presence and magnetism to capture peoples attention with his art of music, even to this day. He will always be a legend. That you Chris for your thoughts and a love for this iconic man's music.

[Chris Shaw]

When I first heard Hurt, the emotion in those lyrics rocked me. Cut to the quick they did. Legend he is. Loved him and June singing together too.

[I am Jade]

Great work Carlos,
I really liked the flow of this poem and the Homage to the 'Man In black' .. It was an absolute joy to read!
Thank you very much for sharing. : )

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you kindly for your thoughts on this poem. It was a lot of fun to write this tribute to an American icon. Because of this man there is a little bit of rebel in all of us.

[red93]

Yes as Chris says Carlos definitely a Hit, and one that could lend itself to a musical backing maybe. Johnny Cash - a legend - and at one time a close friend of one of my icons, Mr Robert Zimmerman himself.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you red93 this was a fun write as well. I kid you not I actually heard Johnny Cash singing these words to me in the dead of night I had to jump out of bed and start writing it down. It did help some I was watching a TV program that in the background soundtrack his music was playing. But I tell ya Old Shoes is all him. Thank you again for your thoughts.

[Betty Hermelee]

I’ve heard many melodies of Johnny Cash; a real country boy, but not exactly in the mold. I love your piece on this incredible journey, the vivid images of famous places, so different from each other, and with the same old shoes which brought you( him) home again….you’re rhyming is superb…that’s a real talent!
Best, B.
PS a true Cash fan!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much Betty for your thoughts on this poem. It was such a fun write. It really paints a bit Americana. Referencing some of these places. I wish I could have experienced even half of these. Thank you again.

[Cynthia Wolff]

Very beautiful and soulful!!

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for your thoughts on this poem. I think it really does reflect the man who inspired this poem. I also enjoyed the journey it took me on. Thank you again so much for reading and commenting on this work. I truly appreciate it.

[Melinda McQueen]

To go about life and reflect on the times.. oh how great.
A nice write.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Melinda for your thoughts on this poem. It was fun to write this for the exact reason you describe. To capture time and places in the life of a traveler.

[Shelley Warner]

This poem has a good feeling to it. These shoes have... And I love Johnny Cash. So I'm glad you mentioned that his song inspired your poem.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you, Shelley, for leaving your thoughts. This was a fun write and a tribute to the man in black. He truly was a legend and artist in his craft. And continues to inspire to this day. I too am also a fan of his. Thank you again for your kind review.

[Shelley Warner]

I use to watch his weekly show until we got a different kind of tv and didn't have the same channels.

[mattavelli]

Hello, Carlos! :)
Those are special shoes and adventures. Thanks for sharing.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Matt this work was inspired by country music icon the late Johnny Cash. These words probably have more in common with lyrical country songs then Poetry. They definitely could be put to the cadence of an acoustic guitar, standing bass, and country fiddle. Some of his music has spoken about the everyday traveling man exploring the back roads of this country. I literally heard his voice singing this as I was writing it down. Makes me wish I could have had the kind of wandering heart he obviously had. Thank you again my friend.

[mattavelli]

It reminded me a bit of "I've Been Everywhere" by Johnny Cash.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

exactly. I was watching a program on TV and they played Hurt by Johnny Cash and afterwards I went to hear another song and I've been everywhere was one of them, along with burning ring of fire. Then as I tried to sleep at 2 am the words old shoes started playing in my head but it was in his voice. And immediately opened up my tablet and started writing down what I heard. It really was a haunting experience but in a good way.

[mattavelli]

He has some fun songs to sing along with.

[Fran Marie]

Old shoes have a way of bringing
us back to the green green grass
of home Johnny Cash was one of
kind ..you wrote a lyrical tribute
poem to the man in black. here
so neatly and poetically expressed
btw heard Elvis was alive and living in
Kalamazoo..lol.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

That's it I'm heading to Kalamazoo on next vacation lol Thank you Fran for your kind and funny thoughts I truly appreciate it. When I wrote this poem I literally heard it in the voice of Cash himself. At 3am playing an acoustic guitar telling me this little diddy of a poetic tale.

[Fran Marie]

you re so welcome

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Saw Johnny in 1968...great concert...the man in black...one of the first singles I had when I was six years old was "I walk the line" and the flipside was "get Rhythm"...absolutely wore that 45 out.
this poem also reminds me of Joe South..."walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes, before you criticize and accuse, walk a mile in my shoes"---
I really like your poem Carlos...it triggers some really good memories....

j.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you, Jacob. If I'm able to bring a good memory to mind with a work of mine then I take it as a success. I would have loved to have seen Johnny Cash in concert I heard he was a legend live. This was a fun write and I'm happy some are taking to it. Legends like this man should never be forgotten. Thank again for sharing your thoughts on this poem.

[Mauricio Montoya]

wow those shoes been around, i myself do a lot of traveling so i dig this write, thank you for sharing

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you, Mauricio, for leaving your thoughts on this poem. This was fun to write because the words were inspired by the great country singing icon Johnny Cash. Plus at its heart speaks to Americana with the slices of images that describe the places in this wide open country and its beauty. It's basically a country song itself. Which reminds me of the spanish songs my abuela used to listen to on the radio when I was young. She also enjoyed country music because they carried similar messages in their words as latino music. Thank you again for your comment.