I am interested in the haiku below in connection with his philosophy and the fact that he wanted to do good and promote his life to that end especially in his travels around from East to West in the USA.

He had a religious upbringing and a strong connection to Christianity as shown in this text courtesy of Wikipedia –

According to Kerouac, On the Road “was really a story about two Catholic buddies roaming the country in search of God. And we found him. I found him in the sky, in Market Street San Francisco (those 2 visions), and Dean (Neal) had God sweating out of his forehead all the way. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY OUT FOR THE HOLY MAN: HE MUST SWEAT FOR GOD. And once he has found Him, the Godhood of God is forever Established and really must not be spoken about.”According to his biographer, historian Douglas Brinkley, On the Road has been misinterpreted as a tale of companions out looking for kicks, but the most important thing to comprehend is that Kerouac was an American Catholic author – for example, virtually every page of his diary bore a sketch of a crucifix, a prayer, or an appeal to Christ to be forgiven.

The bottom of my shoes
         are clean
                from walking in the rain

He wanted to travel on the road from urban New York which he found debilitating. So, you could read these words in a literal sense and consider this as he dispensed with any urban dirt that had offended his shoes as he moved into a rural area.

But you also could look at these words in a spiritual way and view his travels akin to missionary work. When Jesus’ disciples entered a house, they were instructed to offer a blessing of peace. This gesture not only established goodwill but also reflects the essence of Jesus’ message of reconciliation and harmony. The disciples met both acceptance and rejection. While whole towns rejected some individuals nevertheless were converted. When a household did not accept the offering of peace and love Jesus told the disciples to shake of the dust from their sandals (Matthew 10 -14). A metaphoric example of the disciples continuing onwards regardless in the purity of the spirit. You could say to alleviate any contamination so that they were still whole and fully focused on their work.

The feet and soles of footwear have great significance in the Bible. I don’t know offhand why that word sole was chosen.

Apart from that spiritual interpretation moving on in life after meeting a nasty is always an issue. Get involved in something so that your mind is cleared. If you are travelling there is always a new landscape. And of course, if you have a conversation with a friend who shares your outlook that is always a comfort.

I am reminded of the guy who was very near death. And on that very departure day he requested he wear a clean white shirt.

And forgetting involvement in analysis it is always wonderful to go walking or jogging in the rain. And if you are happy in that regard, it promotes a discard of business clutter elsewhere in life especially if communing with nature.

And as background some details in relation to haiku …

Apart from his groundbreaking Beat Generation novel On the Road, Jack Kerouac was also a master of the haiku. He incorporated nearly 1,000 American haiku pops across his writing.

And from Wikipedia … Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac^[1] (/ˈkɛru.æk/;^[2] March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969), known as Jack Kerouac, was an American novelist and poet^[3] who, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, was a pioneer of the Beat Generation.^[4]

He is mainly known for his book ‘On The Road’.