Birkenstock

Birkenstock

An ode to gratitude.

Those sandals sitting there
looking good for their age,
are now quite comfortable,
contoured perfectly to my feet.

I did not make them
but wear them every day
regardless of the weather,
and without any worry
about my appearance.

Those sandals are a gift
from the sacrificial cow
who provided the leather,
from the skilled worker
who expertly sewed them,
from my mother who asked,
"What would you like
for your birthday?"

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Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues,
but the parent of all the others.
~ Cicero

When a person doesn't have gratitude,
something is missing in his or her humanity.
~ Elie Wiesel