Off The Beaten Track

Crepuscular, come shafts of dazzling light

which filter streams of gold through island's trees.

Whose conversation shy, somewhat polite

is whispered on the air of late morn breeze.

Beneath the boughs of sturdy English oak

or in between tall grasses growing green,

wild flowers stretch to greet a fickle sky

while busy bees are bumbling for their Queen.

Uplifting are the treasures spring can bring,

caught in this river haven I adore.

Gone are the irksome ills that plague my thoughts,

I praise what nature gifts, I gaze in awe.

At times for peace of mind I need a place

away from madding crowds, an open space.

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

Off the beaten track where you chose is immensely beautiful; you images startle me, they are so vivid; the words of spring are certainly uplifting, especially if your mood is down. the glory of nature can certainly free your sadness and allow you to breathe in everything that spring has to offer. Lovely Chris!
Best, B.

[Chris Shaw]

So pleased you enjoyed this old poem out for an airing Betty. You are always so thoughtful with your reviews and I thank you fir that. Have a lovely day.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome Chris!

[DIVYA]

It’s incredible, such unadulterated patches of pure heavenly nature, such bliss of solitude, still exist in this day and age of concrete jungles, population and pollution. You paint the lovely scenery stretching before you so delicately and yet so vibrantly. Your reader is there with you instantly, Chris.

And I love the title that tells us that such sheer wonders may lie off a beaten track.

[Chris Shaw]

You have to get there by boat, because it's a small uninhabited island in the middle of the Thames. We have been going there for years with our family. There stands my favourite tree, five times the width of my embrace. Must be hundreds of years old, probably going back to the days of the civil war. A real English oak. Many thanks DIVYA for your lovely review.

Chris

[DIVYA]

You’re so lucky to have this haven to retreat to...these are the true blessings. It was such a pleasure to read and know of it.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Whimsical, descriptive yet with a yearning 'dark' edge. Love the images created in this morning rising scene. You start of with a word that simply has such a 'crackle' to it it drags the reader to your lair of words.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks John. Yep, it's a strong word to describe those blazing shafts of light that filter through the trees from that fireball in the sky. I appreciate your review.

Chris