Boots

Texas,
I am 18
A senior in
High School
Buying my first
Pair of boots when
The boot shop owner
Asks me if I want riding
Or flat heels and I am too
Ignorant naive arrogant to
Say flat heels because I have
Just led a string of five horses
Following my friend riding on a
Ranch northwest of San Antonio
Where I had to stop my horse from
Returning to the barn halfway on
Our route and had to yank the
Reins hard to the left a move
I have regretted for over half
A century but all that was
On my mind when I said
Riding heels a stupid
Mistake of youth
One of many
Past and to
Come but
Always
With a
Point.
My father
Asked why
I had done a
Job a certain way
And I told him why, he
Scowled back you always
Have a reason but I replied
Of course I have a reason or I
Would not have done it that way.
I told him your house your rules
And when we are some day
In my house it will be my
Way to which he
Smiled nodded
Taken back
To his own
Youth, his
Father.