PUZZLE OF THE SHOE TREE

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS? I stop as you would--to marvel--surely the biggest shoe tree in the world! I'm moved to poetry:

A spectacle in the midst of great spaciousness,

Sixty miles from anywhere,

But I choose for the moment to make it the center of my universe,

the focus of my attention.

what, really, is it and what, if anything, does it mean?

A shrine perhaps? I do not worship!

That is for fearful toadies who misunderstand our situation.

But I'm struck with the question---draw near in wonder--

A whopper of a shoe tree;

A challenge to small and slender arms tossing lace-tied shoes toward lofty limbs.

Up there, however, dangle myriads,

flung no doubt by stronger arms--football players perhaps

Or fathers determined to hang one for their children.

Thousands have stood where I stand, marveled as I marvel,

Curious, perhaps, as I am curious---

Then go their way---a long road ahead--Austin or Fallon in their sights.

But I will not go! I am seized by the puzzle:

What can this mean? Who? When? Why?----Well anyway Why?

I resolve to seek an answer like Buddha did:

I will sit under this tree--and I will not rise--till an answer comes!

I sit---time and cars pass---I sit----I sit;

My monkey mind jumps and squirms then calms---I sit--and wait!

AND THEN---quick as lightening, clear as thunder --The answer comes!

SHOE TREE IS A SPECTACLE TO WITNESS--AN INVITATION TO PLAY!

It commands my eyes like fireworks;

Like a kneeling puppy-- invites to play.

But there is more--I'm sure of it---I continue to sit.

Pictures come---a memory reel unwinds;

I see dollar bills, signed and stapled to a barroom ceiling.

I see names and designs made with rocks along the roadway.

I see driftwood sculptures along San Francisco Bay;

I see decorated Medicine trees in Montana

Still the reel unwinds: I see pioneer names chipped into a rock;

Indian symbols of goats, snakes,men;

I see hand prints on Uluru rock in Australia,

And every name and symbol says: LOOK AT THIS!

And every blank space beside it says: WHAT SAY YOU?

So every dangling shoe says ---look at this!

And every empty limb says: "waiting for you"!--"gimme a shoe"!

Still the reel unwinds: I see a child-like notion

in the mind of the very first shoe thrower--likely 50 years ago--

A roadbuilder, camped here, whimsically disposing of his worn out boots;

They dangle, they delight the crew--

bestow a moment of fame and invite---a second pair--- a third.

Like a snowball the idea rolls forward till a thousand shoe birds

sway in the wind.

THERE IS MORE---I remain seated:

Here, thought ingressed into matter;

Idea birthed into action.

A tiny spark lit a great fire;

Here, stands a clue to human purpose:

Nothing became something;

Eternity stepped through a stargate into time---

to amaze, amuse, connect, and remind me:

LIFE IS A GAME-----GO PLAY

I rise-give thanks--drive on.

Shoe birds that fell? or failed?

And lest you need to be told what this is---