Loss of Innocence

( a case of being misunderstood)

Not a glint of precious light

penetrated Nan's backyard.

Not a hint of sun on a spring day

to warm the caked earth.

Nor a blade of living grass,

let alone a flower head.

Only noise. The noise of trains

rattling past on arch tops,

brickwork blackened by smog

and the sight of jaundiced nets

hanging from windows

that had seen cleaner days.

But flowers were beautiful

and in the front garden next door,

an abundance of saffron crocus heads.

At age four,

not knowing they had been nurtured,

she picked them,

all of them.

A posy for her Nan.

All she can remember

is the punishment metered out,

the shouts of another,

and the neighbour crying

for her lost garden.

No one understood that the flowers

were intended as a gift

for someone much loved

who had none of her own.

Reviews

[Fran Marie]

bleakness is brightened up by a child's innocent love for Nan. An endearing piece of poetry..I should think the neighbor will be just fine in time...

[Chris Shaw]

It took a while but the neighbour got over it. Thank you Fran Marie for checking this one out. Most appreciated.

Chris

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

Ahhh beautiful and innocent no harm meant- sometimes we need to try understand another’s view before we get upset and rant and rave- bless her for gathering flowers for her nan🌹

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful answer.

Chris

[Ardra]

I always loved plucking flowers ...I still love plucking them...;)

Once we went to some botanical garden and there was this bright red flower ...I plucked one and I got nice shouting from my cousin sis...she said they will fine you ...you are not supposed to pluck flowers...:p

This is a sweet poem... :)
I hope her granny got the flowers...

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Ardra for sharing your own experience. All good wishes.

Chris

[CD Campbell]

I consider this to be a very thoughtful write. Beautiful in a melancholy sense. There is so much to dig into here. Great work!

[Chris Shaw]

Your review is very Much appreciated CD. Thank you.

Chris

[cheyenne summer garcia]

I enjoyed this piece
well done
check out my page
thank you
-cheyenne

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Cheyenne for your visit. Much appreciated.

Chris

[Samuel Dickens]

Aren't flowers free? I wonder how an omnipotent deity might judge the matter. Life is often not easy to navigate. I feel bad for both parties, but mostly the child.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Samuel for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate your visit.

Chris

[Mark]

I can remember being young and in love, with no money for flowers. Fortunately every neighbor had a rose garden in Bklyn in those days. So my girlfriend came home to a florists shop! Sometimes we just act on impulse. Nicely written poem.

Mark

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mark and for your story too. Much appreciated.

Chris

[Mark]

Didn't mean to get off track, just relating to the initial impulse of raiding someone's else's garden.

Mark

[Chris Shaw]

I was delighted to hear your story, meant you could relate to what I was writing about :))

[Papaya]

I never understood it as a child either. I would raid the gardens on my way to school to bring flowers for a favourite teacher. Boy did I get it one day...

We had a flower thief in my town a few years ago. I live in a small town so it was the big breaking news. Turned out to be a very old man that wanted his very old wife to have a nice garden.

It was kind of sweet.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ana and pleased you could you relate.

Chris

[-Batata]

Your poem here brought back some lost memories ❤

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Bee. I hope that they weren't painful memories. Pleased to meet you on my page.
read moreThank you Bee. I hope that they weren't painful memories. Pleased to meet you on my page.

Chris