Scrambled In The Heat

one from the archives

In this stifling summer oven

as I sip on iced green tea,

with a slice of bitter lemon,

I recall a younger me.

Catapulting back in time

Mum's out pegging on the line.

Whispers from a welcome breeze

lift and tease that dress of mine,

risen now from days gone by.

I focus on the dancing hem,

remembering the hunger when,

garden rosy like the posy

my young beau first gave to me.

Till his flirting left me hurting,

fickle youth I set him free.

What became of all those kisses,

floating still in space maybe?

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i can certainly relate to this...the first love...the first flirting...and all those kisses that never reached those lips, but instead went somewhere else...
you brought me back...the first part of this brought me back to
Vermont and its beauty...

j.

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased I was able to transport you back in time to Vermont Jacob. Your thoughts appreciated.

Chris

[Benita-Staebell M - Kin..]

Ah! the times of childhood
when everything was simple
and carefree and nothing to
worry about.

Thank You for sharing
such a lovely piece

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Benita. I am lucky enough to have lovely memories. I appreciate your visit. All good wishes.

Chris

[Benita-Staebell M - KindredPoet]

It was a pleasure
to read it makes the
readers go back to
their childhood. 😊

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much :))

[elle]

going back to the glory days...necessary!
but we should never forget how beautiful our gift of today is as well.
"fickle love" we all have met once or twice.

beautiful read.

[Chris Shaw]

So pleased you enjoyed this bit of nostalgia elle. Thank you for your visit.

Chris

[Cassie]

I relate so much to this Chris, I am finding myself going back to those younger days

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Cassie of the smiling face. So pleased for your visit. Thank you.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

oh man! i think you are so good at this Christine ..absolutely captivating ..me mum "pegging" ...the dress waving ..and ooooooooooooooooooooo that hem ;) i think this poem is a treasure trove of a young girls memories ...the "stifling summer oven" ..powerful opening .. cooled down on the breeze and subtly turned back up ... really great scene .. emotive ... inspiring and simply stated .. eloquently .. a keeper!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Wow Mr E. What a review you have given me here. A keeper itself, not one to forget. So pleased you enjoyed this poet's rambling mind :)

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

This has an innocent whimsical quality to it. Carefree days when someone else took care of life (pegging out the lau.ndry) as the teen explores herself and her feelings including disappointment.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John. Oh yes, those teenage years, what a place to travel back to. All that optimism of not knowing what the future will bring :)

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed and then we awaken to the chaos and worry of adulthood lol!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Never mind that though as the 'welcome breeze
lifts and teases that dress'!

[April Blue]

I love the way you describe the summer and the way youth and young love can be... As I read the poem I can see the two youths finding love for maybe the first time... The title speaks volumes as you describe the summer heat so well..

[Chris Shaw]

What a lovely response April Blue Flores. You are absolutely spot on with your thinking. Many thanks for your visit.

Chris

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

Lol- floating somewhere - what a thought- sometimes those kisses last for an eternity 🌹

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous for your visit Kelly. What a thought eternal kisses. Enough to make your heart flutter.

Chris

[‘Thoughts In Time’🌹]

Hmmmm isn’t it just 🌹🌹🌹

[Chris Shaw]

;)) ................... x

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

English summers must be so beautiful dear Chris. Unlike our sweltering heat here. I loved the beauty of those past days of youth as narrated by you so wonderfully. If I was around, I'd teach that young man a lesson for letting down such a dear friend of mine.

[Chris Shaw]

A second visit from you Ditzy. How fortunate I am today. That young man was quite lovely, but he had a roving eye, which I have found most of the male species have. They just can't help themselves. I bear him no grudges:)

Chris

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

I’m so glad you’re happy and have moved on. It’s your happiness that matters. I’ll spare him then ;)
Thank you so much for this delightful narrative 💝

[Stella Armour]

It's so easy to find a small thing that can trigger memories deep from way back.

I read your words and think of my first ( what i thought was love ), oh dear ... i think we were both about 12 haha ... now i am wondering what became of him because he asked permission to take me out bless him :)

[Chris Shaw]

Hi Stella, pleased my little poem triggered some memories of your own. I guess I would have been about fifteen in this particular poem. Just starting to go out with boys :) Good manners in those days. Where have all the manners gone? Surprising just how intense some of those emotions were back then. Thanks for your thoughts.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

Yes, manners defined people in those days ... still do in my book to be honest :)

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, I agree. My primary school motto was 'manners maketh man'. That motto was so important in that little school :)

[Stella Armour]

It is seldom seen or heard among the younger generations now even to say please or thank you.... so sad ...:(

[Chris Shaw]

It is such a little thing and yet it can impact so much. Good manners make me smile :)

[DIVYA]

You brought back the carefree, dancing days of youth so beautifully Chris. Yet, there were cares even then...I love everything about this poem so replete with the magical past. I loved the descriptive scenes and the rhyming too.

[Chris Shaw]

Sometimes those random fleeting thoughts make the best subjects for poems. Thank you DIVYA. This was a lovely memory for me to work with.

Chris

[DIVYA]

I very well understand, that stray thought that takes up mindspace and turns into a poem...It was my pleasure dear Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you.