Through the Window, Looking Out

As dusk descends these windows give

a glow of warmth through clear glass panes.

From inside looking out I see

a rose whose withered, fading blooms

invoke the gloom that lurks in me.

When winter calls and harbour walls

prepare for squalls and crashing waves,

old trellis where this climber clings

bring sadness as the hours pass,

a hostage to the howling wind.

Upon the casement window hear

thin fingers scratching, sharp with thorns,

her torn and tattered petals say,

"remember how my scented breath

would offer fragrance to your day?"

Yet now the last of garnet hues

that richest shade of deepest red,

which crowned a garland round your door

and showered all with petalled fall,

decays till summer comes once more.

Reviews

[Zayir]

The theme that winter brings death and sorrow is often a thought that most people share. Since a lot of people love spring and fall. Fall and winter are my favorite seasons. I don't consider the death of the rose to necessarily be a bad thing. I think of it has a process or rebirth, away with the old and in with the new. A time where people are indoor more so they spend more time with family. Just my take but I appreciate the use of the rose in this piece. It seems like the romance of summer is gone now since the rose is now dead. Love the gloomy feeling, thank you for all the pieces of work you put out =)

Much love

[Chris Shaw]

Zayir, thank you so much for your review. Lovely to see you visit my page. Much appreciated.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

oh the melancholy of winter upon us :( the death..the deep sleep ...oh but it also brings a quiet peace eh!? i am lucky ... winter in the Ozarks is mild and short compared to where i hailed from ..(frigid north) your poem made me think of a little miracle we were treated to this summer .. a rose bush growing on the edge of the forest (not noticed before ... blossomed a delicate orange/pink rose .. we were quite speechless and surprised .. we have been here 3 yrs now and all the sudden there it was ...it bloomed and then nothing until a week or two ago when a single rose bloomed from it again ... seemed to say .. here you guys ... one more before winter ;) enjoyed your poem .. felt the sadness ... your "clear glass panes" surprised and delighted me ...was expecting them to be clouded with shadows .. which came after ... i think the contrast works!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mr E. What a lovely story about that Rose Bush at the edge of the forest. How lovely it gave you one last bloom before the change of season. Nature can gift us with many surprises. Pleased you enjoyed the read.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

yes! Nature can surprise for sure .. love and peace!

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

A splendid poetic recital of the cycle of life that goes on beyond that window pane of life we view existence through ...

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks for your kind response Marvin.

Chris

[andrew mitchell]

so much can be said looking out a window and no two windows have the same view. lovely imagery.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Andrew. You are so right, no two windows have the same view. Pleased you checked in. Have a great week-end.

Chris

[andrew mitchell]

You too Chris

[Wild Rose]

Christine I can hear the wind blowing in your words _ reminds me we have a ne Passion Flower which requires to be tied up before Sundays wild and wicked winds pull down the nice tall stem

Our patio is already covered with cream and pink fuchsia petals from this morning wind and rain

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Wild Rose. So the winds are on the way. Wise to see to that passion flower before they arrive. Yes we have lots of fuscia petals on our decking. No rain today though. Thank you for checking in.

Chris

[θεά]

There is a sense of such finality with the approach of winter. The living of the season dies, withers giving way to a form that appears neither to be kind nor relenting. Much like human nature, which dries up and steels in after weathering a trying and turbulent time.

I particularly enjoyed the use of metaphors and imagery in your poem. With each of your works, you manage to stir something deep within your readers. An exceptional endowment to have for a poetess.

Best,
M.

[Chris Shaw]

Mallika, you always write such interesting reviews. Thank you so much for checking in on my page.read moreMallika, you always write such interesting reviews. Thank you so much for checking in on my page.

Chris

[.]

Wow. So well written, Christine.....!

Reading this slowly in my mind your words, rhythm and near rhymes made me think of Keats and the way he would describe a scene with a melancholic yet wondrous tone. Your final stanza is particularly reminiscent of something he might have written himself.

I enjoyed this poem very much. The impending arrival of Winter can sure make the heart sink and the quill work its magic.

A wonderful poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Doodley. You have just put a skip in my step at the very mention of Keats.Pleased you enjoyed my lines and I thank you for your visit and generous review.

Chris

[.]

Always welcome, Chris.

[Coyote Poetry]

I love the four seasons. Michigan Winters, not real hard. I do understand the poem. I will miss the beach days and fun with the grandchildren at the lake. Thank you Chris for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Coyote. I love the colours that come with autumn and the frosts that come in winter, but my favourite seasons are spring and summer. Ones of rebirth and growth.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too. I love the Fall. Halloween for the kids. You are welcome Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much.

[Lorry]

My favourite place to be. Warm and safe inside, with a coffee in hand and contemplation on my mind. My kitchen window is my tv screen, and inspiration for quiet time thoughts, that have the decency to calm down long enough to stop screaming through my head enough to let me contemplate them more. I find it amazing at how reasonable my thoughts can be during these times, enough to wonder why I don't just move the sofa into the kitchen...Or my bed :)

[Chris Shaw]

So Lorry you too are a watcher through the window? That's where I like to be during the cold, winter months, especially when it's blowing a gale. Nothing like a hot drink to get that warm feeling. Your kitchen sounds very cosy. Thank you for checking this one out.

Chris

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

No matter the season there’s always a reason to be beautiful and bring light wherever you go- the seed lies dormant- through trials and times of gloom and doom the beauty is resurrected- wonderful words🌹

[Chris Shaw]

Visually there is always beauty in every season. Emotionally, I have my favourites. Spring and summer, always make me happiest. Thank you for your very thoughtful response.

Chris