Cold Feet and Global Warming

Big red bows as big as a box car
Wiggled in the wind on the wreaths
At Union Station. A holiday zine.
My coat, scarf, gloves, boots and I were striding
Past the fountain, eyes on the arches.
Other oblivious hurriers hustled by me:
I was stopped in my tracks by toes.

Bare, not very clean, surprised to be out in the air toes,
Set free by the weakness of wooly strings
That once held the title of socks.
The ramifications rippled.
This homeless man in the frosty sun
Had a hooded sweatshirt, gloves and shoes−
But what good were those without warm feet?

I stared as if the tattered threads
Opened a hole in the universe
(At least a small one in mine)
Socks! I had to go buy him some.
How long would he sit by the fountain?
What was I going to say?
“I saw your toes and thought I’d like to help?”

I recruited my husband. We went back outside.
But the holey-sock man was gone.
I had searched for socks too long in the shops.
We’ll always keep socks in the trunk, we vowed.
Then months were warm, socks not quite so crucial.
But the urge to fix the world waxed on−if only
Everyone had good socks & shopping could save the planet…

“Change your socks, change the world!”
Like a lucid dream, Sierra Socks’ slogan swirled onto the screen.
Suddenly, the shoe fit, the planetary toes twinkled—
Organic, authentic, Sierra Club-supporting,
Soft durable cotton, wool, soy, or bamboo,
Stylish argyle, ribbed, knee-high, and sport-loving crew socks--
Giving pair-for-pair to the homeless, too!

Could it really be true?
Socks with pizazz and a conscience to boot…
The words came from within−This is the way the world mends.
Through anti-material purchasing trends.
So go dig your heels in Sierrasocks.com--
Click gifts for the family. Send links to your friends.
Spread the word−this site is hosted by Earth.

--Barbara Carr Brossman, 10-14-08