Whiteknights

(Name of a campus in Reading University)

In my mind's eye

I reflect on summer,

when early morning mist lifts

to reveal the tranquility

of calm waters.

A soothing stillness,

sun's heat working it's magic.

Abracadabra 

showing the serene allure,

the pureness of what had been concealed

by nature's veils.

It is winter tragic.

On the sixth day they found him.

They dragged him from the lake

in the campus grounds.

The lake that had taken him

with its icy grip,

on the coldest night of the year.

A wicked white night.

This morning the mists

have thickened in my eyes

and I despise that callous side

of all that I have grown to love best.

Like a cruel lover testing, testing

my limits.

Reviews

[Anjeline]

It's a absolutely lovely poem Chris. It had both a beautiful description of the nature and emotions. I loved the turn in the poem and really liked the lines-The lake that had taken him
with its icy grip,
on the coldest night of the year.
A wicked white night.
It's really a very nice and emotional poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Anjeline for your thoughtful review. Much appreciated.

Chris

[Anjeline]

You're welcome :)

[Ted Kniffen]

Chris;
You've certainly done justice to this young man's tragic death. I live in the midst of the Great Lakes and water plays a big part in our lives here. Sometimes I think we get so used to our surroundings that we pay very little heed to the dangers.
The snowstorms that come can pile up the inches, but it is the wind that is the true danger...whiteouts are extremely disorienting and anyone who walks onto a frozen lake is liable to fall through...happens here frequently to ice-fishermen who think the ice is thick enough, but not always with deadly results.
I can imagine the talk...what was he doing there?...was he drunk?...why didn't someone go with him?
None of that matters! Accidents can happen and that's all that this was.
A good write.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Ted, you are so right. It's been all talk on the local radio for days now. Whatever happened and why, the bottom line is a young man with a promising future is dead, and that hurts. There are a lot of people grieving. Thanks for your thoughtful review.

Chris

[john l smith]

I've got the opinion this is an actual event (?)
certainly a tragic situation with a family left to grieve

[Chris Shaw]

Sadly Dave it is a true event that took place in an area I know very well. Thank you for your visit.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

An treacherous side that we don't think about when we are blinded by its beauty; the same can be said of the sea. Hidden dangers concealed to give us a false sense of security... so we step in to enjoy and are grasped unsuspectantly beneath the skin deep beauty.

[Chris Shaw]

So true Stella. I can't help thinking that where beauty resides so does danger. Thank you for responding.

Chris

[Lorry]

I love this Chris, the beautiful side followed by its ugliness. I have been part of some of those searches for missing climbers and walkers who for whatever reason, thought they knew better than the warnings posted everywher and go hiking and climbing in t shirt, shorts and trainers. Its hard to feel sorry for those, but we know that with the recent weather, people need to get wherever they are going and the bills dont stop because its snowing. These people get all my sympathy.
It is amazing how disoriented you become in whiteout conditions and temperatures, and sadly there are more and more cases to prove it.
We never know the minute, my mammy used to say. She's right.

[Chris Shaw]

Your mammy was a wise lady. Life is incredibly fragile and we should never lose sight of that. I am a huge nature lover, but oh her callous side is deadly. This young man appeared to have got disorientated after a night out in the student union club. It just happened to be the worse night of the year weather-wise. There's a petition set up and thousands have signed it for better lighting around the campus lake. Tragic. I'm sure you know all about that from where you are.

Chris.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Every heartache and tragedy we endure tests our hearts limits ny trying to push it to the cold side.
Your poem is crafted with some great metaphors.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous Cowboy. I do appreciate your thoughts and visits. All good wishes.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i have grown a callous side...cruel lovers over a period of time can surely do that us...
the rose colored glasses become too fogged up...
a 'soothing stillness" could certainly be more than what it seems....deadly.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Jacob, I love where my lines took you. Too many of us wear rose tinted glasses. Comes as quite a shock when the lens shows clear.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A tragedy indeed Chris. A young man simply on a night out from University dies needlessly. You have written this with eloquent sensitivity. It flows with description.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John. I know this lake so well, this news has played on my mind.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I get it. Someone was murdered in a lane a mile for here, along which I have run. A 15 year old went missing two days ago a few hundred yards from where we live. We live in a nice area! It makes you uncomfortable about these areas.

[Chris Shaw]

It does. The student that drowned may have done so because the lighting was poor on a very wintry night. No doubt there will be more in the news. Such a waste of a life.