Small Miracles

By the time I turn on
our chrome plated kitchen tap
gleaming and polished to perfection,
observe a fountain of clear cold aqua
gushing uninterrupted into the basin
of our stainless steel sink,
fill a tall, slim crystal clean glass
with its contents to quench my thirst

a child in a foreign land
has sadly died
as a direct consequence
of drinking dirty mud coloured water
diseased and foul
from a cracked pitcher

I am reminded we take for granted
on a daily basis, without a thought,
what others would gladly extol.
What is freely available to us
is nothing short of a miracle to many.

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

Yes, dear Chris, we are fortunate; and now our World is blending with free Immigration… our Leaders must enforce Laws to keep our Country’s Water Clear and Clean…. No small Task. Our Leaders need a Wake-up Call which is Top Priority. Amen.,,, gently, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for calling on this old poem Pat. We are so fortunate, clean water we take for granted and yet so many don't have it. Surely every country by now should have this without saying. Many thank yous. All good wishes.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Chris, once again, I visit your poem... and realize that Life should be like a Clear Mountain Stream and protected... by all Countries. Prayers are Powerful , because they represent what we our Priorities should be. Be still and listen to the Whippoorwill. gently, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Pat. Sending love across the waves.

Chris

[Lydia Shutter]

How true this is. We don't realize how lucky we are. Have to say a couple years ago when water and electricity were out for a week after a hurricane, we realized. Things we take for granted are considered luxuries in other countries. Great new photo of you, Chris. Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Lydi** for your response to the poem, and noticing the newer avatar. Needed an update, the old one was taken at least three years ago maybe more. All good wishes to you.

Chris

[R.E. Ray]

Truth, Chris! While we also take for granted so many other resources, water is the perfect one to profile. It quenches and cleans, and runs through our fingers like time... something else we take for granted. Thanks for the reminder of our "small miracles."

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Robert for your thoughts on this one. All good wishes.

Chris

[apennylate]

Damn... Clean water is a miracle...
The 1...2... Style of presenting detail into your lines is always a solid choice...

"chrome plated
gleaming and polished
a fountain of clear cold aqua
gushing uninterrupted
stainless steel sink,
tall, slim crystal clean glass"

It continues this way, though not as strongly as the first verse...
But the descriptive word we DO get is strong enough to imply dozens of terrible things...
"cracked pitcher"

We just had this revelation recently here...
Old house, bad pipes, ran outta filtered water for a weekend...
You would think I was in a 3rd world country with how difficult it was to get a glass of water that didn't change colors in the light...

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Silente-Write, Pleased to meet you. Welcome to my page and thank you for your review. Much appreciated. All good wishes.

Chris

[apennylate]

Pleased to meet you, Anne...
A pleasure and a revelation...
Cheers

[Chris Shaw]

Call me Chris, everyone does :))

[apennylate]

I will call you w/e is fancied, friendo
You can call me...
W/e the heck you would like...
Except perfect, because one grows tired of hearing that everywhere one goes *hair-flip*

[Chris Shaw]

It's more than enough you visit. Anything else is an added bonus. Like the way you do a hair flip. I reckon you're a bit of a diva :))

[apennylate]

...*A bit*...

[Chris Shaw]

You Are a full blown diva. Pleased to meet ya diva :))

[apennylate]

They call them attention w****s from my where'ah-boutz...
Let us show a little respect for my heritage...
SHESH

[Chris Shaw]

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

[Davidgeo]

You can drink your own urine twice before it becomes toxic.

[Chris Shaw]

Survival tactics. I guess all the military would know that. I didn't, so you have taught me something. Thanks for your visit David.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

Not all the military knows that. I got it from a youtube video.

[Chris Shaw]

It's an interesting fact and I've just shared that with my grandkids:))

[Dave]

Chris - it is a crying shame that what you say is true. We are so fortunate to live in a country where so many things, that others would die for, are taken for granted. I for one relish my early morning shower. I seldom think of how much that water would mean to someone dying of thirst or disease simply because their water is so filthy. Sooner or later we will all be called to account for or neglect of those in such desperate need. Strong point you made - Chris

Take care - Chris - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Dave for your visit and sharing your thoughts. All good wishes from across the pond.
read moreMany thanks Dave for your visit and sharing your thoughts. All good wishes from across the pond.

Chris

[gram linski]

Loved this, Chris, you speak the truth, a while ago some guy invented a water filter that cost a pound, got sponsorship, funding and yet. and yet, f**k all,

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks gram. That's really sad. What a difference that could have made. Probably not enough profit in it!! Really makes me appreciate how lucky we are.

Chris

[andrew mitchell]

We do take for granted, and we do turn a blind eye to all the wrong doings in the world which out weigh the good.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Andrew for your visit, most appreciated.

Chris

[Sami Khalil]

I guess people take for granted what they do not lack or feel the value of its loss. In all aspects of life, work and health, one must continually count the blessings bestowed upon them or their nation. A true message with lots to be thinking about or of.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Sami for your thoughts and your visit. All good wishes.

Chris

[Sami Khalil]

All good wishes. You are welcome.

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

That's the whole true.
We think we don't have much,
When some don't even have one.
We felt too ungrateful,
To what some would joyfully appreciate.
Something we took for granted,
Is what some people would embrace.
If we've ever been in darkness,
We'll appreciate every light rays.

This is amazing and a reminder that we should appreciate every opportunity we ever have.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Kay for your thoughts here. All good wishes.

Chris

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

It my pleasure, Chris.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes we do..take things for granted every day ..well said and this message is always timely .. i went to Venezuela a long time ago and two things impressed me and still does to this day .. one was the control the government exercised ..to the point of only 4 people at a time in cars ... no pictures of any military etc. .. and the other was the mountainsides just outside of Caracas ..filled with people in shacks of cardboard, tin, ... whatever they could find .. i mean thousands of people covering those hillsides .. no plumbing nor electric of any kind ... all of them hoping the city would give them a better life ... i will never forget ... and the feeling of such helplessness :( i read that American, Christian Churches give more aide to third world countries than any other group ... small lifting of guilt ... but at least something .. thanks for sharing your important work Chris!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mr E for calling on these lines. A big thank you for sharing your story with us. Really makes us appreciate how easy we have it in comparison to some. All good wishes to you my friend.

Chris