Martha

A spirit crossed my path as I

breathed in the scent of pearly pinks,

in garden beds of hyacinths >

Her presence lingered, caught my thoughts,

a pause for moments to reflect,

to pay though late my fond respects

and conjure up those early days

on visits guided to a chair.

I'd listen, learn each time I stayed.

How old she seemed, how thin the skin

on hands that poured out lemonade

and played at making paper dolls.

It's strange that drapes once tightly drawn

can part at random to reveal

lost souvenirs that years can steal.

She left as softly as she came,

but not before I called her name.

Reviews

[Neville]

although at first I thought this would be a mourning song .. its not at all .. its a celebration of a series of fond recollections all rolled into one and marks each respectfully with a dignity and poise befitting of Martha herself and the poet recalling her .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

It is a fond recollection Neville and I thank you kindly for calling on Martha. I felt it was time to let her breathe some fresh air. I hope you are having a good day and looking forward to the bank holiday weekend my friend.

Chris

[Neville]

Greeting from a so far, somewhat damp, Somerset .. my pleasure entirely ma'am

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Sorry you haven’t got the sunshine Neville. It is glorious here. I am an optimist too so reckon the sun will shine on you and yours soon :)

[Neville]

so am I so think so too .. maybe :)

[Chris Shaw]

No need for confusion. Martha is my great grandmother and Neville is Neville:) The poem is an old one out for an airing. Sorry you got rain:)

[red93]

This almost has a Sonnet feel to it Chris, and as we have seen, modern Sonnets (or neo-Sonnets) often stretch the regular 14 lines / 16 lines requirement. I like this a lot, and well up to yr usual High Standards ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Tony. This is an older write out for a breath of spring air. Have a great day.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

A beautiful remembrance of a dear person, conjuring up moments of childhood play, the the aging process when we all have brittle bones and thin skin the smile on your face when you went to a visit, and then her final moments when you had the good fortune to say goodbye
All of this portrayed so perfectly as always Chris.
Best, B

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Betty. My great grandmother. So tiny and fragile. That is how I remember her. Such a kind lady. Have a good day Betty.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome dear Chris
Best
B.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Really lovely, Chirs.

My personal take is to set off in line 6 ,though late, with commas, forcing the reader to take that pause. But that is just me.

Winston

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Winston. An older poem out for an airing. Will add that comma.

Chris

[willweb]

That was beautiful Chris and the scent of Hyacinths is one of my favorites. I love how this poem takes shape, through the eyes of a young girl experiencing the wonder of learning from one who we love and respect. This was just so nice. You take life and you put it into beautiful words.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you will for your lovely comment. I do love the scent of hyacinths. I have blue ones in my garden at the moment. I guess they remind me of Martha ever since I wrote this poem.

Chris

[Perdition]

Oh..cool! Wonderful to have a spirit wandering in. Mine was always a Sarah but you sound like you know this one a time or two. Someone you probably knew and shared the good milky afternoons with her, I get a lingering smell of moths or drapes when I read this...barely old in the sense where it's almost a ceremony to push back the rings or hooks and reveal old nicks and nacks..the kind of thing that makes the eyes go wide as (and I'm relaying this to my now passed uncle) like a guitar he's never played and that has never been cleaned in years or an original Elvis unopened something..usually an album just leaned or propped up against eternity, and it brought you to tears because you wanted so badly to take it home. I like this Martha..she smells of candy as well and wears just the right amount of wrong makeup..lol. Thanks Chris, a wonderful walk~

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Joseph. Pleased you enjoyed your walk. Martha was my great grandmother. A tiny, fragile read moreThank you Joseph. Pleased you enjoyed your walk. Martha was my great grandmother. A tiny, fragile
little lady. She would dress for afternoon tea. I remember her most for her kindness. I think I would rather the smell of hyacinths than moths:) Not a bit of makeup on her wrinkled skin. Most definitely not. An old poem out for an airing. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful poem dear Chris. Felt like whisper to a memory, we need to remember. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Coyote. Thank you also for the comment left on an old photo. I was trying to upload a new one and something went wrong. An old one came up and the new one hit lost in the ether :)

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Chris. I am the one in my family who saved the photos. They are so valuable now.

[JE Falcon]

There is so much endearing emotion in this poem, in quiet, and in apparent fondness, that it drew me in and asks that I stay to the conclusion. If I were to suggest a change it would be to move "as I" to the second line.
(as I breathed in the scent of pearly pinks).
But I am not the writer and only you can decide the flow, as it should be.
On the applaud side, WOW, your last eight lines just carried me away, and the last two lines left me with visions of the moment. This is a wonderful poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for your thoughful review. Suggestions always welcome. It was a special moment and she was a very special lady. Your moments appreciated.

Chris

[LJW]

This is beautiful. Almost ethereal.
I saw her in a high necked dress sitting in a chair, her gray hair in a bun. Heavy maroon drapes parted. A slice of sunlight on the sitting room floor.
Where she once was, the memories remain.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much. You captured her spirit too. Yes, heavy drapes and mahogany. Tiny she was, like a little bird. Lovely response.

Chris

[Lathen Griffiths]

When we think back to the people that had an impact on our lives, there are those that stand out and this reflects so wonderfully here. Being beautiful and kind leaves an echo that carries on forever, not only within memories but also within the words you’ve shared, have a wonderful weekend Chris.

Lathe.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lathe. How right you are. It is so easy to remember kindness. Thank you for stopping by and have a good weekend yourself.

Chris