She did have boots,
Big ones, cute ones, pointy ones and grubby ones.
They were made for walking; I have the scars to prove it.
In the years we were married she walked all over me
Not always in her boots,
Her words had far more impact
When emotionally charged
Like a work boot grinding you into the ground
Her words could make you feel responsible
For every ill upon the earth.
The beauty of wearing boots
Was you felt invulnerable
She was always right,
No matter how wrong her logic
She never or rarely lost an argument
You succumbed in the end
Trampled upon with relentlessness
You gave up only for the sake of your own sanity.
So the next day, in new pair of boots,
She’d step up to the mark
And you’d cower in anticipation of another humbling.
It wasn’t a matter of:
“ one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.”
It was every day.
Morpethroad 
Seems like she needs to be ‘resouled.’
Ha ha what a good idea
So true of some people
Yes indeed
Wow. That is all
good poem. abused husbands often are made invisible because others tend to downplay their abuse and they are much less likely to reach out for help than abused wives. your poem did a good job of portraying the effects of that relationship
Thanks so much, I appreciate your thoughts.
kaykuala
She never or rarely lost an argument
You succumbed in the end
Trampled upon with relentlessness
It is a great strategy Michael. To lose a battle but win the war is no loss. It is meant to maintain a good relationship in a win-win situation with a loved one!
Hank
Yes Hank so true, thanks for the comment, much appreciated.
I can identify Michael.
Thanks Di.
Hi, Michael!
It’s Sandi – formerly of Flipflops everyday. How the heck are ya! So your story reminded me of a childhood memory. When we were kids, I had an uncle that had issues with his back, but couldn’t afford visits to dr. Not horrible back pain, but needed counter-pressure. So he’d lay on the floor and have me and my cousin (when kids) walk on his back. No shoes, of course. But the pressure we provided helped relieve some issue for him. Odd. I had forgotten about that memory.
Hi Sandi, I’ve missed seeing you in blogland. My old father in law used to have his wife do a similar thing. Back pain can be horrible.
I hope you are doing well.
Thank you. I’m revamping and loving my new site. Humble but Humorous. (the new Hh logo) – I actually paid for my new site with a new focus. However, I’m still “me” and intend to still carry on as I always have, but with some added element. 🙂 I missed some of the friendships I made in the blogoshere.
Good luck with it all. Blogging is a lot of fun.
A fellow I worked with once commented about his ex-wife, “She treated me like floor tile. She laid me once and then walked all over me for the next twenty years.”
Yes it can be like that.
ouch sad marriage, abuse is wrong in every form! Paints a sad picture …
Great piece, but so sad Michael. I do agree that the Rights Boots can give a woman a sense of power or braveness they wasn’t there before, shoes in general. But Boots in particular could relate back to this song. I’m so sad your character was pretty much obliterated by this woman andher abuse of power and a feminist symbol in some sense. There’s a song “Red High Hels” by a country singer named Kelly Pickler. In some ways, these red high heels are very much like the boots in Nancy’s song. Thanks again for participating. I enjoyed your take 🙂
Thanks so much Mandi, appreciate your comment.
You’re very welcome!