Caged Company

(a watercolour painting by a great uncle, stirs up some emotion)

Watercolour brush strokes

hide behind plate glass,

framed in antique gold

A flick of the wrist

brings about dust dispersal

captured by sunlight

Rose scented petals permeate time,

church bells resurrected, chimes resonate

through a garden in Rylett Crescent

Grape vines grow on brickwork,

velvet to touch peaches, oozing fruit

reach out to taste

I find myself in Martha's parlour,

she long gone, left a son

in canary company

Pippy pivots on artistic fingers

a caged bird's brief respite

in tune with wheelchair bound George

They chirp away happily

content in each others company,

freedom a lost memory

Reviews

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

The comparison between Pippy and George’s caged life, and their acceptance of the good in it, is profound and meaningful. Vivid, eloquent, evocative verses describing your great uncle’s watercolor is a brilliant metaphor of life behind glass. Who of us does not live behind glass? Hopefully, we learn to “chirp happily” and achieve a measure of freedom. Great write Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Such a generous review Annette. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

You’re very welcome Chris!:))

[Neville]

there are more than just the obvious juxtapositions contained herein our Chris .. poignantly beautiful, kinda sad & very well crafted .. all in all, a little masterpiece in its very own write.

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

My great uncle George. I have some framed watercolors he painted. He spent much of his time wheelchair bound with his pet budgie for company. I hadn’t’thought of him in a while. só thanks Neville for visiting him.

Chris

[θεά]

What a quaint little tale of birds but that which can reimposed on any other couple! Delicate use of allusions and the meter matches the tenor of the piece. Good to have you around, Chris.

Cheers!
M.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mallika for calling on my page. Very much appreciated.

Chris

[alanwgraham]

It is brilliant how you conjure classy poetry from the everyday Chris. I've just been reading a novel by margaret foster called The Memory Box where a mother who died when her daughter was a baby leaves a box of items to be opened as an adult. It is, like your poem, very thought provoking. How will we be remembered ? Funnily enough one of the items is an unfinished watercolour which the daughter finishes.
Regards.
Alan

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Alan. I have that book, not yet read. I will make a point of reading it. Thank you for your warm response.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

Stunning portrayal.
High-level work, Chris!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jimmy for your generous response.

Chris

[1 Deep]

I felt like I was watching a movie. This was really vivid and artistic story telling. Thanks

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Deep for your response. Your words very much appreciated.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

nicely done
we used to have budgies
always left the cage open which resulted in a few 'spots' but they loved the freedom

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the story shared in the poetry. Nice to have memory left to keep. Thank you Chris for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

A family story I want to keep going Coyote. Nice to be able to pass these memories down through the generations. Thanks for your lovely response.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Chris.

[Phill Oz O'fee]

A reflective reminisce homage of family memories - with eloquent wordplay and silky stanza flow of poetically strung salient points! Great read and lovely write - kudos … :-)

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Phill for your thoughtful review. Much appreciated.

Chris

[Ted Kniffen]

beautifully written bit of nostalgia. How the simple glimpse of an old photo can illicit great memories comes across and brings us into the parlour...by a fire (I imagine) with George & Pippy.

A good write Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ted. My great gran (Martha's) home. Can't remember a fire, but can remember the highly polished mahogany table where she would have afternoon tea. :))

Thank you

Chris