***july 1 2009***giving His Boots A Rest Poem by Tom J. Mariani

He is resting
In a comfortable Library chair
With his boots and jacket on
His backpack is nearby

He's reading today's paper
And has three plastic covered
Magazines stacked on the floor
To read next

He's in from the cold and rain
He's in where it's warm and dry
He's been to the men's room to
Wash himself and his socks and shorts

Wrapped in a plastic bag
He'll dry them later
Now he's trying to get his boots to dry
They're damp and well worn

They are not worn out
Just like him
They are well worn
They've covered many miles

He's worked in them
He's slept in them
To keep warm and to see
That they are not stolen

Where do you put your shoes at night?
Under you bed? In your closet?
It's been a long time
Since he's had either

How do you
Keep your feet from freezing
In the long hard-frost winter nights?
How do you keep warm?

If you'd never had to worry
You wouldn't appreciate
The warm dry Library chair
That gives his boots a rest