04 01 2006
Green Shoes for Spring
City Hall, San Francisco, CA
We met at 9 a.m., each chose a pair of green shoes, and individually and in
groups walked the streets around City Hall. At the appointed time we reconvened
on the plaza, took off our green shoes and walked away barefoot. For Green.
For Spring.
come,
harbingers of light—
this day we call into being,
the spring,
arrived in full body
to propagate across the city
the winding thread
of new life.
breathe light from the sky,
and bring the lusty breath
of daffodils and cherry blossoms
to mind.
in your wandering path
cause moss to swell
and burst apart the cement of sidewalks
and bricks,
cause the dainty heads of flowers
to break down skyscrapers
and parking garages
in your wake.
let your steps
rise up the eyes of birds
still frozen
on black branches of leafless trees.
call out the leaves.
call out the songs.
call out the slime from half-dried slugs
and snails.
bring out your ears
to hear the new music playing through the grass
composing itself for the day
when picnics will come.
as you march
your triumphant green
through the city streets
cause windows to yawn wide
and throw off their heavy drapes.
bring with you the racket
to wake the trolley cars
and municipal transport buses
from their layer of winter dust saying
“hello,
wake up, wake up,
i am green
and at last
i have come”.
Written for the Green Shoes for Spring installation,
San Francisco
GReen
History
