Rick Noguchi

Mr. Thomas Asawa, the Man with Two Left Feet

Even if he wore one of each shoe,
A left side and a right side, people would still notice
That Mr. Asawa was full of grace.
His walk was perfectly choreographed.
His stride elegant, yet powerful.
He walked the walk of man
Self assured in his every step.
Despite the fact that his body wanted
Always to pull right, veer away from his path.

Instead he wore what he had, two left
Shoes for two left feet.
A right shoe on a left foot where a right foot should be
Made no sense to Mr. Asawa
Who walked the walk of any other
Man only better. The spring in his gait
Precise for someone with two left feet.
A left foot in a right shoe would provide
No support for his arch and would damage his sole.

It was how he knew the world,
A little off center, a slight draw to the side.
Mr. Asawa learned early to compensate for the difference,
The tilt in the earth’s axis which no one notices.
For him, the misalignment was normal
And so he walked a straight line
The same as everyone else—one foot after another.

Although his foot prints reveal otherwise.

Rick Noguchi

Poem, copyright © Rick Noguchi, 2005
Appearing on the Fishouse with permission
Audio file, copyright © 2005, From the Fishouse

Posted on November 26, 2005 5:50 PM