Shiny Red Shoes

She loved her red shoes, so bright and shiny,
with red buckles that kept them on her tiny feet
as she ran here, there, everywhere, around the house,
the yard, saying look at me grandpa, look at me.

I smiled and laughed as her new puppy joined in the fun,
twirling, yipping, nipping her ankles, which sometimes
made her cringe, but today led to giggles, wiggles,
falling down on the ground buried in puppy kisses,
near misses, with arms that locked the little fellow
in warmth of attention, not to mention grass stains
on her white dress, scuff marks on her shoes, a mess.

Tired and sleepy, shoes covered with dirt
over the faded sheen, I couldn't be mean,
invited her inside, gave her a piggyback ride
for a dip of Oreos in icy cold milk, went down like silk,
until eyes drooped and I scooped her up,
laid her on the couch to sleep, while I polished
her shoes back to shiny red new.