for little listeners with big imaginations
From the Little People Poems series: Centipede
Centipede’s 100 Laces
The twice-a-year day was coming
That I liked least of all
It came marching every springtime
And climbing every fall
It was time to shop for 100 shoes
For all my soles were thin
But shopping for 100 shoes
Was not the fun it seemed
Last time I wanted rainbow boots
But they only had 44
So I wore icky buffalo boots
On many, many more
Mismatched boots and mismatched socks
I tried to fade away
But with one hundred feet to hide
Good luck finding a way
The day had come, and I sighed
And march-march-tripped away
I hoped this time was better
Since the last fitting took all day
Ninety-nine feet were size eight
But the last, a whopping ten
Walking into the shoe store, they sighed
“Oh, one-big-foot’s back again”
I blushed the blush of 100 feet
That felt such imperfection
Sometimes they would not listen
And all took their own direction
I didn’t get the lollipop boots
I wanted when I arrived
They had 100 shoes in stock
But all were too small, size five
The saleswoman kindly smiled
And tiptoed with a wink
She showed me butterfly boots
And asked me what I’d think
“I think, I think… wait, how many?”
She smiled, “As many as you need
Ninety-nine in your size eight
And one size ten foot freed”
“Oh dear,” I cried, “oh yes, please yes”
I could hardly believe it was true
Beautiful boots in my first silly size
And my second silly size too
“Oh, please, yes, let’s box them up
I am as delighted as can be”
“You’re blessed in more than 100 ways”
She said, “Just as you should be”
My heart felt funny in my chest
Almost as if I could cry
I skipped home and watched
My pink boot butterflies fly, fly, fly
I thought, now isn’t this something
I went expecting the worst
But the kind woman gifted my day
Choosing love and kindness first
I said my prayers at the end of the day
My heart filled with thankful smiles
I thanked God for the boots, the woman
And 100 boots with pink butterflies
Easter Ellen
More Centipede Poems:
1. Cenipede
2. Centipede’s 100 Laces
~ Smiling with words that won’t leave me alone until they tickle the page.
Easter Ellen writes poetry, prose, fables, reflections, devotional pieces, and three-degree-sideways observations on life. Her work moves through humour, beauty, bite, tenderness, story, and the truth she relentlessly seeks beneath ordinary moments.
She also helps women think clearly, choose intentionally, and move forward with self-trust through content, coaching packages that meet them where they are, and practical tools for building better habits and thinking processes.