HOEING COTTON IN HIGH HEELS

 

Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel

 

 

Until that Saturday afternoon

the skies of Big Muddy

had been wide enough for Cyrus

heaven had been near enough

the wondrous world carried him along

with no hard thinking on his part

 

He was in that blissful state

wearing ice cream pants

when he bought a ticket at the new Rialto

and a bag of popcorn

sitting in the second row

luxuriating in the upholstered seat

his imagination exploded when he saw Clara Bow

dancing on a table top in high heels

 

He stayed and saw the movie twice

and began to run a high fever

he finally left the theater with dizzy visions

from the magic screen

laughing painted girls bobbed hair and short skirts

always wearing high heels

 

out on the Saturday street was reality

knotted hair gingham women

he saw his mother with a basket on her arm

cotton stockings and sturdy shoes were right

for her

but he could never forget silken legs

on the silver screen

the new woman was here to stay

but he puzzled how the girls of Big Muddy

could hoe cotton in high heels