How Green is my Valley?

Upon this hill brow looking down

into a valley's wide eyed gaze,

refreshed by bird song and the sun

I see the work of yesterday.

Here tractors cut thick meadow grass

and left behind in even rows

their tracks, attracting feeding crows.

As grass now dries in autumn air

and morning mist evaporates

into a cloudless sapphire sky,

my hope that others not yet born

will tread this pathway and this space

will not fall foul to building bricks

to disappear without a trace.

Reviews

[Neville]

I was half expecting a dedication or a tribute to the old B&W movie by the same name which I now vividly remember as a young child making me cry (because I found it so emotional & quite writely sad) .. Having said all that, I am so bloomin glad my reflexes for once, were wrong .. in fact, seemingly way off mark .. Your penned observation can not be faulted and your expressed wishes and hopes, likewise shared unreservedly .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

This place is on my doorstep, a ten minute walk away. I hope it stays as it is. The developers move ever closer. The film, I too remember, in black and white, set in Wales and as you said, a sad one. Caught you then, with the title:) Many thanks Neville.

Chris

[Neville]

I hope they leave it be, too Chris

[M. J. Smith]

Summer... hay drying in fields, sun turning the horizon red, cattle wandering to and fro, the days when a drifter wandered free....
Sadly, my daughter will never know that. Not the way I came to know it, just me and God himself. Beautiful, Ms. Shaw.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you MJS for your thoughts. Your daughter may not live the experiences you had, but she will have her own and may still appreciate what you saw, but in her own way. Always appreciate your visits my friend.

Chris

[JE Falcon]

It is hard to watch the Present Steamroll the Past. However, after three generations what we remember and write about will be replaced with what they remember and will write about. And sometimes that is not a bad thing. That is why poems like yours should be written and recorded, so the future may view the days and places that came before it. --- I especially like the lines,
"As grass now dries in autumn air
and morning mist evaporates
into a cloudless sapphire sky," --- Nice!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Falcon for sharing your thoughts. There is plenty of steam rollering going on. Open spaces being turned into concrete jungles to satisfy an ever expanding population. .Makes my heart sigh. Thank goodness for memories.

Chris

[Suhd]

It's a wonderful painting painted with words. It is ravishing and gives a sense of serenity echoing through it before it rings some serious bells at the end. The message or thought at the end of this is sublime and subtle. Bravo

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Suhd for your very generous review. Much appreciated.

Chris

[Suhd]

Always a pleasure, Chris!

[bigfootprint]

Touching tribute to a beloved land. This is why I love your mind. So simple the imagery, so magic the love of nature's beauty -- and for humanity. Fav lines: "my hope that others not yet born will tread this pathway and this space." Sometimes the future looks to be an inhospitable place, and that is sometimes our fault. I love to write about the warmth of a pastoral scene -- or paint them as the mood strikes. I could share a pic of one of my paintings if you wish. Please continue o dazzle us with your lovely odes.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Doug for your warm review. I'd like very much for you to share a pic of one of your paintings. I look forward to that.

Chris

[Adam Adams]

very well. seems, you have nicely captured & stored the reality of your "yesterday" in suchness of words. it reminds me of village where crows soaring through the skies and farmers shouting at their "lullabies". i have clearly watched the whole set of picture in mind, of course, & undoubtedly, though the cinema of your valley-words. certainly, looking forward to reading your work this night, Anne. you have got a very beautiful art of choice with words that you shan't let go. have at it... and keep writing, lovely you.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Adams. Your visit to my page and your review, very much appreciated.

Chris

[Beccy]

Even at my approximate halfway stage through life, there are fields and meadows and other lovely open spaces of my childhood, that are now no more than treasured memory. Three decades or so ago, our village was a 'proper' village, now is is little more than a part of the urban sprawl.

This is a beautiful and classically written poem, that showcases what is happening more and more in our world, and also shows me that good poetry is alive and well.

Beccy.

[Chris Shaw]

Sadly that is what is happening. Urban sprawl. See it all the time. Thank you Beccy for your thoughtful response.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

The season of Autumn. I love the change of color. I loved the complete poem. Thank you Chris for sharing the amazing poetry.

[Chris Shaw]

Beautiful outlook here Coyote. I always appreciate this place. All good wishes to you from across the pond.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

How green will our valleys remain
When they show pictures looking over cities and say

"What a glorious Landscape"
I wonder - Have they ever been out side the city?

[Chris Shaw]

We are in danger of losing our most valuable asset. Areas where I roamed as a child now under concrete. Makes me sad. Building should be done on brown fill sites not green belt. Thank you Wild Rose for checking this one out. I know you will feel the same.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Yes a fight going on in Kendal to remove cars from a car Park to build some offices - make a park into a carpark The waste ground full of rubbish has to be saved

Half the councillors have resigned because people didn't like their plan

[Chris Shaw]

Good when commonsense prevails :))

[Dave]

You paint such a sad portrait all to real for the world today. Push, push on to progress, but at what cost? I too remember fields we once played in now turned into parking lots. Pick-up softball or basketball games all gone by the by in favor of condominiums.

Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave. Ever expanding population, more houses, more schools, less green fields, less woodland. Yes, it's sad.

Chris

[Paul Bell]

Concrete jungles, don't you just hate them.
It can only get worse.
Maybe brexit will fix it, but I doubt it.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Paul. Yes concrete jungles, not good if you are a nature lover. Welcome I guess if you don't have a home.

Chris