Seek And You Will Find

Yes, even gasometers have their own brand of beauty.

There are flowers everywhere

the saying goes, for those who look.

And yet first glances may conceal

the gems that later are revealed

when patience lends a helping hand.

Beside the lakes, behind bare trees,

supplies of gas, container stored.

Alas, a blot that most would find,

a blemish on the landscape's view

and few would see disparately.

At twilight, I have seen flaked grey

of paintwork at the eve of day,

on three tall ladies standing there,

upright, ungraceful, rusted old,

a blend of dullness mixed with cold.

Though when the late day sun descends,

the rust becomes a burnished bronze.

Behold, as sunshine warms their skin,

the last of sunlight's golden glow

bestowed before the day caves in.

Reviews

[Perdition]

Only the various few stop to witness and hold the broken beauty that lives in everything...poetry is made of this..Petrol pumps, as the English I've heard say, become statues and from there we stage the rest that we must. This is wonderful Chris. Read the haiku as well and wanted to share the cherry trees and dogwoods that bloom over here...promising warmth and then cold comes crashing in...liars all of them!!..hahaha This was a wonderful read and I wonder what we'd truly call that moment when we see what we see and stop long enough to become forever changed; It is certainly another religion I would say without hesitation.

[Chris Shaw]

What a lovely review and thank you for reading the haiku too. Your cherry trees and dogwood in bloom surely deserve a poem. As to that moment you talk about I would call that a revelation and that may have inspired a poem. Pleased you stopped by. Happy Wednesday.

[Neville]

this falls by far the write side of what is essentially an old saying of mine but very rarely used these days .. this is a fine example of why I fell in love with poetry, chuck & no kidding (my old saying ends at the comma after poetry, by the way). Neville

[Chris Shaw]

What praise from you Neville for this old poem. I thank you and truly. Have a wonderful Tuesday . read moreWhat praise from you Neville for this old poem. I thank you and truly. Have a wonderful Tuesday .

Chris

[emmajoygreen]

Tis said everything is beautiful, it depends on the beholder, the tolerant and the man or woman who just looks and looks and looks. Your poem is beautiful, truly is; has a sense of peace, gazing, may i use the word 'alighting; on what strijes a chord with a chink of light or shadow. Read again, your two final stanzas are magic. For me is rain dripping from the telegraph lines running through trees, they glitter now and again like a living creature.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Em for your lovely and welcome response. In truth the three fat ladies were a blot on the landscape on a grey morning, but when the sun shone on their rusted skin, they had a beauty all of their own. When on the river, I have time to look. At home, it is limited:) Your dripping rain produces some gems too. We all need a few of them. Have a wonderful day. Pleased for your visit.

Chris

[emmajoygreen]

Am having a wonderful time catching up with friends and theri writing.. and saying thank you, owe so many. Tis a pleasure to be in touch.. again. x

[emmajoygreen]

I never fail to make a typo, so sorry. But then, do like to include one or two to prove this really is me!

[Mauricio Montoya]

Wow Chris I love reading your work because you have flow with words that open the mind with love how t strong, yes good write and thank you for sharing

[Mauricio Montoya]

Sorry typos but you're still a good writer

[Chris Shaw]

Mauricio, it is always a delight to have a visit from you. Thank you so much. I appreciate you.

[Mauricio Montoya]

Hi Chris I had to come back and read this again,
Thank you

[Chris Shaw]

You are a gem

[Relic]

One man's garbage is another man's treasure. Funny how something catches our eye and we find a place in our hearts for it. Something no one else would take notice of. Yet, if we look, if we notice and pay attention, the most minute things can come alive when the sun is just right.

An enjoyable poem, my friend. :)

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Tim for an encouraging review. So true what you say. Something ugly by day became quite majestic in the evening sun. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder:)

[W. Barrett Munn]

Love this one, Chris. I put on my editor's shoes this morning so I will be sending a note, too. That doesn't mean I don't love this, though.

Winston

[Chris Shaw]

You are too kind Winston. Pleased you like the poem. Thank you so much.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I've heard but I think value is much the same and it tends to our individual perspective of what we consider important or worthy. One might own an ugly dog he wouldn't sell for gold. I believe most things contain some value intrinsically. But the worth we place upon them might be completely different from that value. I own a walking stick that I would not trade or sell. It's just a stick. But the stick was grown from a tree my father planted in an orchard tended by his own hands. It's very beautiful with knurls and natural colors of almond and blood cherry in the wood. But it isn't the beauty that makes it valuable to me. Yet, I suppose even a dirty gray building could be loved if it held the highly revered title of "home". I enjoyed the read.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Fabian. That walking stick of yours has huge sentimental value. The gasometers by day are ugly but even they can shine in the bronze light of sunset. They actually looked quite majestic :) Pleased you stopped by.

[willweb]

Everything can be beautiful, it just depends on who is looking at it. And yes, just beyond the lakes and tree line could wait something many find not pleasing to the eye, but many do. Nice one Chris. A fun read.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks will. Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When the sun was going down the gasometers, ugly by day took on a majestic and bronzed look:) All in the eye.

[S J K]

I love to imagine and the creative sides of life, this had great imagery :)
Really enjoyed reading it actually :D

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased to meet you SJK. Welcome to my page and thanks for the great review.

Chris

[A hare off]

A poet will see beauty in some of the oddest places that others never think to look and if they did, wouldn't see anything other than what it is. Enjoyed this one Chris

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you. Pleased you enjoyed the read.

Chris