"Which shoe fits?": A poem about suicide

23 Jun, 2026

The following poem is about suicide. It uses "found" text, which creates intriguing, distressing, and often disagreeable juxtapositions. Engage, or don't, accordingly.

Definitions are from the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, 13th edition, in order. They have been edited.

Which shoe fits?

take verb.

1. To reach out for and grasp; to enter for use. She considered taking her own life.
2. To carry, conduct, or lead to another place. She considered taking her own life.
3. To do or perform. She considered taking her own life.
4. To get, receive, or occupy. She considered taking her own life.
5. To agree to have or accept. She considered taking her own life.
6. To accept as valid. She considered taking her own life.
7. To adopt or commit oneself to. She considered taking her own life.
8. To endure or put up with. She considered taking her own life.
9. To need or require. She considered taking her own life.
10. To use as a means of transport. She considered taking her own life.
11. To make, as a written note. She considered taking her own life.
12. To make, as a photo. She considered taking her own life.
13. To study or teach. She considered taking her own life.
14. To remove, use, or borrow without permission. She considered taking her own life.
15. To proceed to occupy. She considered taking her own life.
16. To come or derive from. She considered taking her own life.
17. To have room to hold or strength to support. _She considered taking her own life.
18. To consider as an example. She considered taking her own life.
19. To mistakenly consider to be someone else. She considered taking her own life.
20. To capture or win. She considered taking her own life.
21. To be charmed and delighted by. She considered taking her own life.
22. To eat or drink. She considered taking her own life.
23. To conduct or lead. She considered taking her own life.
24. To be in charge or control of; to run. She considered taking her own life.
25. To react to or receive news. She considered taking her own life.
26. To feel. She considered taking her own life.
27. To turn to. She considered taking her own life.
28. To subtract or remove. She considered taking her own life.
29. To go into something. She considered taking her own life.
30. To deal with or consider. She considered taking her own life.
31. To produce the expected or desired effect. She considered taking her own life.
32. To begin to send out roots and grow. She considered taking her own life.
33. To measure. She considered taking her own life.
34. To become suddenly, as illness. She considered taking her own life.
35. To understand. She considered taking her own life.
36. To have sexual intercourse. She considered taking her own life.