Daydreams Of A Harmless Kind

A lily pad has broken free

from all her friends and family

and left behind a safe retreat

of sheltered waters, clear and deep.

I see the dangers for this craft,

a raft which carries hopes and dreams.

I watch the struggle as she swirls

through currents on her way downstream.

I cast a magic spell and sigh

then wait and watch her navigate.

A change of pace, she gathers speed,

into the distance and her fate.

Later in the day I find

my plate-shaped craft still on my mind.

A moment's pause before I think,

'Ah yes, there'll be some challenges,

but no she won't succumb and sink'.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

well, Chris...what a delightful allegory...
my buddy and i would sail wooden ships down the creek...and watch them as they encountered obstacles but got through and kept sailing.
some did not....like humans...we sail a creek of life....trying to survive and keep floating on.
Some get caught up in problems and stall, maybe forever...but we try to keep movin' on.
another thoughtful write,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Jacob for sharing your story about you and your buddy. My boat just happened to be a lily pad.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful story shared in your poetry dear Chris. The words danced to perfect ending.
"Later in the day I find
my plate-shaped craft still on my mind.
A moment's pause before I think,
'Ah yes, there'll be some challenges,
but no she won't succumb and sink'."
I did like the above lines. Some hope in the words. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Neville]

splendid with so many hidden depth .. it is a mental defence mechanism if the truth be known and every now and then, sublimely so .. I am so glad I trawled long n hard to make it here this mane our Chris .. the journey was a sincere pleasure and I leave with a smile on my face .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Neville. Written four years ago while on the river. The lily in case you are wondering is a metaphor for my daughter who has sadly never returned to her friends and family and is unlikely to do so. Pleased you enjoyed the poem and it made you smile. Have a lovely day.

Chris

[Robert Trakofler]

This is the Chris I love rhythm and rhyme master! I see the lily as a birth of thought sending it down the waves of consciousness and the spell as its inception as it courses down thru the trials of existence but thats the bunny's brain:)

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Bunny, good day to you. I have to say I like very much the way Bunny's brain works in his response to this poem. Thanks a million

Chris

[kitty]

It has to be resilient to bear the weight of that princely frog! (otherwise the princess won't ever get her kiss! A lovely imaginative piece. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[Chris Shaw]

Very many thanks kitty for reading this little bit of whimsy. Much appreciated.

Chris

[kitty]

Whimsey is good. Whimsey is necessary at this time. Nature is being put down.

[Onlyme]

Well said Chris, we steer our boat and go around obstacles and overcome any problems that come our way. Just in life. Wonderful allegory.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Dawn, thank you so much for checking in. Happy Easter to you and yours.

Chris

[Onlyme]

Hi Chris, and Happy Easter to you and yours. Hope your doing good. Dawn.

[Chris Shaw]

All OK with us, trust the same for you?

[Onlyme]

Not to bad thanks Chris, few ups and downs. Health wise. But making the best of it all.

[Chris Shaw]

Keeping my fingers crossed for you :)

[Onlyme]

Thank you Chris and like wise. More ups than downs for you too Chris. :)

[john l smith]

I look at this and enjoy it just for the impositions a lily pad goes through, bumping its way downstream.
I feel as tho' I should be 70 yrs. younger, running alongside with a long stick to help it on its way
Very enjoyable

[Chris Shaw]

I very much like that image you have just given me Dave. Have fun running after that lily pad with that long stick to help it on its downstream drift. This poem brought out your inner child. How good was that :)

Chris

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

LOL This could be about me! and posted on my birthday at that! I took a rocky rest with a great many challenges but I am back to walking and writing, I didn't succumb and sink! Haha! I loved this treat!

[Chris Shaw]

I love how relatable my lines are to you and I must of course wish you a very happy birthday. I am so pleased to hear you are back to walking and writing. Good on you girlie :)

Chris

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

Thank you Chris!

[Robert Trakofler]

you better not succumb thee Bunny will find you and kick you in your butt!!!!!!!

[Dave]

Chris -
To float along and let the stream, the current take us where it will. Sometimes flowing quickly and other times hardly at all. Despite all the possibilities that could do it in, it survives, refuses to give in an simply sink. Instead it is moving ever onward - what a lesson for life presents your lily pad.

Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Nature often teaches us lessons Dave. Thank you for your thoughtful response. Your visits here always appreciated. Good wishes to you and yours.

Chris

[Dave]

You're always most welcome. I find it is a pleasure to read what you write.

Take care - Dave

[Mrudula Rani]

A fairytale; it has all the magic of legend ... a kind hearted angel casting a spell of preservation on the little Lilly pad, who is on journey of its life. Enchanting writing chris, absolutely sublime.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mrudula for your ki dness. You make me smile when you visit :)

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A lovely snap shot of nature at its most innocent and yet at its most brutal. A smooth, detailed verse with lovley descriptions and a big softie writing it who cares for a lily pad!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John. That's me, a big softie :)

Chris