There is a lot here, and the idea of a cobbler as a life symbol is very interesting. The writing is short and tight. I think the idea of fate represented in shoes is strong. I remember in war footage all the shoes of the dead soldiers are stacked, to be worn by others. This certainly was true as well in the civil war when most Confederate soldiers went barefoot into battle.

I have to point out
At first the image of the anvil and shoes made me think of horseshoes, and that perhaps the poem was about military horses.. but then the shoes were made from a hide, so dropped that idea. but for me, the anvil is not associated with a cobbler but an iron worker.

Hmmm this ones very different from your normal fare. I think its clever that in two stanzas you've conveyed so much. I have one suggestion that you may use or ignore. But tying in with the cobbler theme instead of anvil maybe use *shoe last*

I really do like this very much. Maybe there is something I'm missing with regards the anvil ? If there is I'd love to hear it.

Well done :-)

Love and hugs J xxx

But as a few of us were unaware of the cobbler's anvil I would only suggest you either footnote it or work around it. My own opinion is that if there is something you want to express in a poem that is clear to you by not the general public, and might lead them in the wrong direction, it creates a distraction to the reader which I try to avoid. But that's just my own very personal aesthetic which some people think is valid, others not.
..