On the boat yard, hard standing

Inspired by Neville Pettitt's Exploding Flowers, (writing poetry, instead of cleaning the inside of our boat.)

Through cabin glass gleaming,

sun's rays stream shafts of brilliance

on pale winter skin, shyly exposed.

My eyes wander to woodland,

naked, silver limbed birch trees,

stretch their necks towards blue sky.

I have read of flowers exploding,

a poet friend's travels in Bulgaria

where sun yellow heads burst open.

How well that image has traversed,

before me the bareness of branches

now transposed, adorned with blooms.

In my mind I can paint many pictures,

with my words can compose many poems,

I do not have to live it to see it.

On the banks of the Thames In Berkshire,

birch trees explode with Bulgarian flowers.

Hobova I say and mean it.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Emily Dickinson did all her traveling through books, through poetry...by her favorite teachers and authors...
you travel through one of your favorite poets...the traverse we take when we read other poets is amazing...i don't understand why more writers don't read others' works more often.
this got me to the scene...i felt the breath of the places you describe.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Jacob. Thank you for sharing that Emily information with me. I was unaware of that. We should all read more poetry.

Chris

[andrew mitchell]

Lovely imagery Chris reminds me of those live in barge boats that go up the canals with the scenic imagery you describe. nicely written.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks for reading this older write Andrew. I appreciate you giving it another airing. All good wishes.

Chris

[Kent Rawski]

Imagination is what's left of your mind when there's nothing left and so necessity becomes the mother of invention and voila a poet is exploded

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your visit, you are most welcome. Your thoughts are truly appreciated.

Chris

[Laura Kate]

This is wonderful. This actually gave me shivers, thank you for reminding me that I too have this ability. We all do and it's incredible. Reading your poem I could at first see the scenery you were describing, and then pictured someone there in the scene - very clever how you changed the perspective there. I enjoyed this a lot.

[Chris Shaw]

Welcome to my page LauraKate, so pleased to see you here. Your thoughts are most appreciated. Thank you.

Chris

[Pete]

you took me there. this is so powerful and telling. very inspired and inspiring. it grips and holds from beginning to end with a wonderful flow of imagery and feeling. title and all. one of your best i think. great stuff Chris ... :)

In my mind I can paint many pictures,
with my words can compose many poems,
I do not have to live it to see it.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Pete, thank you for your visit and for your review. Very much appreciated my friend.
read moreHello Pete, thank you for your visit and for your review. Very much appreciated my friend.

Chris

[john l smith]

We have certainly done our share of scraping bottoms and revarnishing to well appreciate this
Much more pleasant watching flowers grow as U know

[Chris Shaw]

I leave the bottom scraping to the other half while I tend the garden. However there is much pleasure in boating on the river in the summer season Dave.

Chris

[Phill Oz O'fee]

What a wonderful poetic picture you draw - Great share Chris - love the easy flow of words and the imagery imagined from your poetic text - :-)

[Lydia Shutter]

In our mind's eyes we can see things through art and through words. Words are like a magic carpet....transporting us to new and different places we may never see in person. No, you do not have to live it to see it. Lovely write. Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Lydi**. I had just read Neville's poem about Exploding Flowers in Bulgaria. They were fresh in my mind. It was easy to transfer them on to the bare branches of the birches :) Us poets are fortunate to be able to use our imagination.

Chris

[Lydia Shutter]

Absolutely....our imaginations are priceless.

[Aditi Nagvanshi]

Reading these lines soothes my mind. I really enjoy reading your work.
Thankyou Mam for sharing such innovative approach of yours.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Aditi, welcome to my page. Pleased to see you visit and many thanks for your thoughts. They are very much appreciated.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

This is the thing with poets , they do not have to see to feel... we are dreamers, we paint and weave with words and colours .
We can look at something like a naked, stark tree and see things others can't ...

[Chris Shaw]

We can use our imagination Stella, and it is wonderful to do so. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

just imagine flowers that can burst open .... nature is so inspiring...

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, and I saw them on the bare branches of the birch, like Christmas lights on a Christmas tree.

[Stella Armour]

see, that's what i mean... no ordinary soul would have seen them lol

[Chris Shaw]

: )) ..................

[Stella Armour]

they say it is a fine line between sanity and madness... and here we are seeing things hahaha

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, and we don't even have to resort to drink or drugs to do it :))

[Stella Armour]

if only the young ones knew... they would all want to be poets :))

[Chris Shaw]

I'll have to try that one on our Robbie and Beth. Having said that she is about to study English and American Literature at Keele, so maybe she will find she has an affinity with poetry :)

[Stella Armour]

That would be lovely , i only got into it by chance... i wasn't looking for it at all :)