OWED TO S NIGHTINGALE

A tribute to Martinborough head librarian and one-woman shoe museum Shirley Nightingale, recently exposed on Seven Sharp  (http://tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp/nz-s-biggest-shoe-collection-video-5574655) as the Imelda Marcos of New Zealand.
by John Ansell
 
Beneath our head librarian’s desk? Two shoes distinctly pythonesque? Unwind their way all sleek and curly ?Round the shapely feet of Shirley.?? Wreathed in tongues of molten plastic,? These blue serpents, though fantastic, ?Are out shod when Shirl reveals ?A crazier pair with blinking heels!

These flashing light-embedded shoes
Are soon an isshoe on the news,
Then Shirl strikes a sadistic note —
Stilettos trimmed with fur of stoat.
?The next day where the stoats had bin’:? Two pedestals in leopard skin;? In skin and suede with studs and spikes,
It’s crazy shoes our Shirley likes.
?So how is it this baby boomer’s? Now the ultimate conshoemer?? What foot fetish has compelled her? To impersonate Imelda*???Though a trend girls tend to frown on ,?Shirley craves to be looked down on;? Local blokes who’ve got the blues
Can simply ogle Shirley’s shoes!
 
Like the toes of Bilbo Baggins? Shirley’s shoes are living leg ends.??* Marcos, Philippines first lady ?In the years round 1980.