"You will put on a dress of guilt and shoes with broken high ideals"

Wearing a "dress of guilt" evokes an image of guilt being an all-encompassing, visible garment that someone cannot help but display. The choice of the word "dress" carries implications of exposure and vulnerability. A dress, often worn formally or in situations where one is seen by others, cannot easily be hidden. Guilt, therefore, becomes a part of one's outward identity, affecting how the person perceives themselves and how others perceive them. Like a dress that clings to the body, this guilt becomes inseparable from the self, wrapped tightly and worn for all to see.

The "shoes with broken high ideals" adds another layer of meaning, suggesting that with every step, a person's movement and progress are hindered by ideals that once raised them higher, but are now shattered or compromised. High heels traditionally signify aspiration, ambition, or elegance. The fact that these "high ideals" are "broken" implies a loss of moral elevation, a fall from a previously held standard, or perhaps the inevitability of disillusionment. Every stride taken in these shoes becomes painful or burdensome, each movement a reminder of what has been lost or damaged. Progress is still possible, but it is slow, awkward, and accompanied by discomfort.

Combined, these images point to the emotional cost of failure, disappointment, or self-betrayal. The person is weighed down by guilt—unable to cast it off—and each choice or action is hampered by the damage done to their core values. The ensemble of guilt and broken ideals is not just a private suffering, but a public costume that others can witness. This creates a sense of empathy, as the reader may recognize moments in their own life where guilt became inescapable and ideals fractured, leaving an enduring sense of vulnerability and unease. Roger McGough’s metaphor offers a poignant illustration of the burdens we wear after falling short of our own or society’s expectations.