Transient Calm

(after the Thames burst its banks)

i give you a fluvial plain on a January day

where a line of fine poplars are ankle deep

following a relentless purge of winter rain

sentinels where the fringe of a field should be

yet i see before me a wide glistening flood

where meadow grass once stood green and lush

this river could not contain its frenzied pique

frothing downstream in a turbulent dance of hell

onwards angry towards estuary and open sea

bursting banks, trespassing on once dry land

leaving in its wake a shimmering glass cold lake

resplendent in its dress of silvery sheen

all gleams silver, bright in light of low sun

an air of calm does effuse a soothing balm

as geese and terns pay homage to the peace

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"bursting banks in anger"
i like the personification....rivers don't like to be battered with what they consider God's tears...
they overflow and damage because they have been riled.
but with the sun and some days...peace comes to them again...they calm...still....almost as in a trance, meditating...
nicely done, Chris....one catch in first line, third stanza...did you mean "contain"?
and love the word "effuse" it's not a word that is used often enough...
maybe just poets make use of it.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Jacob for your encouraging review and also for spotting the typo. Now corrected. Most appreciated.

Chris

[Ted Kniffen]

Quite the trip you took us on Chris. Water is so important for life and yet it can be a very destructive force.
Flooding is something that we see frequently in our part of the world...on the banks of the Detroit River and surrounded by Lakes St. Clair & Erie. Erie can be especially bad when the winds run from the east.
Your poem brought to mind some of the ones I have been involved in, including a hurricane in the Carolinas...the adrenalin rush over ruled the fear...but the sensations after...whew!!!

Good write.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ted. Fortunately the recent floods did not destroy any homes in our area, although in other parts of the country it has been devastating. Thank you for sharing your situation. Hurricanes must be pretty scary. The landscape looked beautiful but with beauty comes cruelty at times. Pleased you enjoyed the read.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

No one seemed to know the secret of saving rivers: they must be kept in banks.
You've managed to make flooding seem intensely beautiful and overwhelmingly peaceful.
A decidedly unique perspective!

[Chris Shaw]

The floods in my area didn't cause devastation to homes Jimmy. In other areas of the country there has been real suffering. Yes it was beautiful to look at, it can also be devastatingly cruel.

Your opening sentence witty. Many thank yous for your continued encouragement on my efforts.

Chris

[Zulfa1994]

You know your way around with the words...its like you play with them!!!! beautifully written

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Zulfa1994. Pleased to meet you on my page. Very much appreciate your thoughts.
read moreThank you Zulfa1994. Pleased to meet you on my page. Very much appreciate your thoughts.

Chris

[Zulfa1994]

Youre most welcome....definitely will do

[Chris Shaw]

Aw, the read more my dear is a computer glitch. I wouldn't dare have put that. You are likely to come across it often on this site :))

[Einstein Noodle]

i only read the first line, Chris ... the fluvial plain exploded all over me .. what a great word!!! fluvial!!! :)
stunning poetry says i .. you certainly captured the title in the expression .. i have skirted several floods in my life without harm .. i am reminded of them .. and i am reminded of those recent and so destructive for residents :( i love the imagery of calm after the flood .. transient indeed .. as most calms are .. the great flood of 1927 historically so significant in music and the movement of African Americans relocating North ..
https://youtu.be/swhEa8vuP6U
lots of fine poetic "stuff" in this says i ..and in whole...a keeper ... i feel serenity in your closing images ... going to hold on to that ... who knows .. storms may meet me today ;)
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mr E, you have me blushing here. So pleased you enjoyed the imagery. It was incredibly beautiful, but alas has already gone as I wrote this poem a week ago and the flood waters have subsided. Thank you for the link. I will be sure to visit after my shopping trip. Chores have to be done even though I would much prefer to spend my time on poetry. Wishing you peaceful day my friend.

Chris

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for that lovely link and the share of music and flood imagery. Now, was that a banjo? If not what instrument could I hear? A good morning from a blowy UK.

[Einstein Noodle]

guitar was Joe McCoy's weapon of choice .. those old recordings can make it sound like a banjo .. especially the back up rhythm player .. but i think that's just Joe ;)

[Chris Shaw]

It was great to listen too Mr E. Have a lovely day :)

Chris

[DIVYA]

"frothing downstream in a turbulent dance of hell" ` - beautifully worded, Chris

Raging rivers are formidable and with their sheer force can sweep away so much in their wake. It happens that there is turbulence and raging at points and calm at other points.

I love the journey you took me on...

[Chris Shaw]

The calm after the storm has certainly been replaced by a raging wind today DIVYA. I would imagine those poplars are being fully exercised. Thank you so much for your lovely review. Pleased you enjoyed the journey. I am always so happy to see you here.

Chris

[DIVYA]

Also, reminiscent of a woman's journey...rivers always are...You are welcome always Chris...

[Chris Shaw]

You are so right, I hadn't considered that before DIVYA. Greetings from me.

[DIVYA]

Indeed...for some reason, I always think of them as women. :)

[DIVYA]

Good Morning Chris and I hope its a nice morning for you...:)

[Chris Shaw]

Still blowing a gale, but bright with it :))

[DIVYA]

Keep smiling Chris....enjoy the day :)

[Lorry]

Well, when you put it like that Chris, it sounds almost pleasant, and the trees are just dipping their roots in the water and having a paddle 😀
Whether it be global warming, or Ma Nature reminding us we are getting too big for our boots, investing in a dinghy seems to make sound financial sense.
Maybe our next genetic advance will be flippers or webbed feet 😀
I wonder if linguaphone do a "learn dolphin!"

[Chris Shaw]

Learn a dolphin, what a thought Lorry. Ya know I'm one of those nuts who would like to swim with the dolphins :) Seriously though, mother nature even when she is moody can create some wonderful
visuals. Fortunately no one lost their home or was hurt in the making of this poem. The weir can control most of the overspill fortunately. Webbed feet ha ha. I know one or two who look as though they have developed those already. Good morning from a really blowy Berkshire. Roof blew off a local block of flats and has closed a town centre near us. Yep it's that bad.

Chris

[Lorry]

Nope. I'd probably end up with the worlds only evil dolphin and it will hold me underwater while laughing in my face. (I've also stopped eating tuna since i found out they were dolphin sized. I just assumed they were a bit like sardines)
Yes, was listening to the radio reports but despite saying it was gonna be bad, i think one wheelie bin got knocked over and an owl shivered.
Was a bit blowy, but nowt compared to what you got. Just a run of the mill, dour, dreich day.

[Chris Shaw]

aw those dour and dreich days are dead sexy down here :))

[Lorry]

Really? Its like all the grown up clouds have just been told of the genocide of baby clouds and they're gonna cry a biblical amount.
The only sexy that occurs here is when you get indoors to a roaring fire and after about an hour defrosting, can start taking all our layers off... Which i admit can take a while. Its a bit like playing human pass the parcel 😀

[Chris Shaw]

It's the language Lorry. Dour and dreich, it sort of drips off your tongue. I'm talking poetry here, not stripping off infront of log fires (which I am sure is very nice).

[Lorry]

Na, dour and dreich in my mouth have fourteen r's each and is more like the noise you get when you stick a straw up a frogs arse and blow really hard. 😀

[Lorry]

Ps... I think that's the hundredth time ive said that on here. 😀

[Chris Shaw]

Never tried sticking a straw up a frog's arse. What a wasted childhood you had ha ha :))

[Lorry]

I got the idea whilst drinking a Calypo 😀
That spelling doesn't look right. Those orange juice packs you pierce with a straw. 😀

[Chris Shaw]

I know the ones, that turn your tongue bright orange and get you all hyped up and uncontrollable and banned from school.

[Lorry]

Yeah, kids cocaine 😀

[Chris Shaw]

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

[Dave Brown]

The dry summers lull us into forgetting the days of endless rain, swollen river banks and grassy fields turned into shallow lakes
All nicely expressed

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave. It certainly looks very pretty. Fortunately no one has lost their homes in our neck of the woods.

Chris