Aftermath

(With apologies to Byron as one of his poems gave me the idea)

So how will you greet me

when we next meet?

With your arms open wide,

with a kiss on the cheek?

How will you greet me,

I've known you for years?

Will you measure the distance

as you ponder your fears?

How will you greet me,

will you stand back and stare?

Pretend you don't see me,

when you know that I'm there?

How will you greet me

should we meet in the town?

When your sorrow is heavy 

and your spirits are down.

How will I calm you 

when we're standing apart?

When my presence is danger

yet there's love in my heart.

How will you greet me?

How will you greet me?

Reviews

[pinhead07]

Drifting apart and wondering what the person will do when you meet them next, happens quite a lot, I can relate, I’ve been an addict for several years, drifted apart from all of my friends, keep wondering if I should reach out, wondering how they’ll greet me, perhaps they’ve forgotten and moved on, perhaps they’ll welcome me with open arms, anyway, I’m rambling now, this is very nicely written madame :)

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous for your visit to my page. Your thoughts were most welcome. Thank you for sharing. All good wishes.

Chris

[katie]

I love how you capture the essence of how differently people can react to you when they see you based on the "aftermath" of interactions. Your rhymes are clever, and you describe all of the various ways interactions can take place when you have history with someone. I especially think you do this well in the third stanza. Take care and stay healthy!

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Katie of tge smiling face. Thank you so much for your thoughtful review. Your visit here most appreciated. Keep safe and well yourself. All good wishes.

Chris

[Lydia Shutter]

Questions we all ask ourselves in these crazy times....times we have never experienced before. The rules are fuzzy and we just don't know how to act....what is expected of us? Will we ever hug a friend hello again or will be sort of wave from 6 feet apart? Good one, Chris. Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for understanding Lydi**. What on earth does the future hold? I can't imagine not being able to hug a friend. Yes, how will we act? You take care my friend. Always appreciate your visits.

Chris

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

This brought to mind the one person whom I feel I've truly wronged in life... I was a young man riding the waves of lust, infatuation, but hadn't yet learned to love. Though my feelings for her were strong, I betrayed them and more importantly, I betrayed her. I often think of what would come of an encounter with her... would she say, hello? Would she completely ignore me? Your words were like a vehicle... thanks for the ride.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Travis I think we all have one or two people from our past we could apply these words to. Thank you for sharing your story here. I would like to think the she in your thoughts would greet you warmly. With the passing of time, she would put it down to youth and inexperience. I reckon you would get a smile and a hello. Thank you so much for your visit. I'm sorry though that my poem may have brought to the surface some uncomfortable thoughts.

Chris

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Don't apologize at all... these moments are what give a poet's work life. I've lived, and I have accepted the hurt I've caused to others... only trying to live the lessons I've learned from those experiences. I would like to think that she would greet me warmly as well. Thanks for the lovely insight.

[Chris Shaw]

You are most welcome :)

[Beccy]

Bumping elbows whilst wearing a mask; standing at a distance, an embrace out of the question, is just so alien to us, and like so many, the future after lockdown has been constantly on my mind.

Shutting down economies, though financially so destructive, was easy, shutting out our fellow man, quite impossible.


Beccy

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Beccy. Much for us to consider when thinking of the future. One thing for sure is it's going to feel alien for quite sometime. Really appreciate your visit. Thank you.

Chris

[.]

Lovely repetition here, dear Chris. This will be the next confusing issue that this Covid crisis will present us with; just how do we greet our friends and loved ones after this? Our natural instinct is to reach out and hug, kiss or shake hands, but the doubt this virus has induced in our minds will most likely change our behaviours. It would be horrifying to make contact with someone we care about only to have them fall ill thereafter unwittingly. It's a serious conundrum we will all have to deal with in the forseeable future. Your poem has really seized on this issue and the uncertainty and pathos leaks from your pen. I am sure Byron would appreciate this one. Its another delicately written poem. Very relevant and much enjoyed! :))

[Chris Shaw]

So many things to ponder on for the future Jamila. Things we took for granted once have now got to be given careful consideration. I think many of us will be grappling with these thoughts. Really appreciate your visit and your thoughts.

Chris

[alanwgraham]

That's the question we are all asking at this time Chris. This situation makes us behave in ways that is against our deepest beliefs. At some time we are going to have to take that leap of faith. Unfortunately we have all become versions of Pavlov's dog and will need some deconditioning. I will finish this with an online hug!
All the best.
Alan

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Alan. That online hug was most appreciated. Yes, the future is going to be strange. It raises all sorts of questions. I think social distancing will be around for quite some while yet. Take care of you and yours.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

I somehow have the feeling the inspiration was not "The Destruction of Sennacherib." This one has the sound of the rekindling of an old flame. The feeling is that the one time lovers have not been in touch for a long time, but now some event offers the possibility of renewing acquaintances. It may be a class reunion or something of that nature. The next to last verse indicates that from the speaker's perspective, the old feelings have been revived. But as noted, danger is involved. Tread lightly.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks John. The Byron poem was 'When we two parted'. I like your interpretation of these lines. Always interesting to hear what my readers make of my lines.

Chris

[Ruth]

Reading this made me ache to go outdoors, inhale some rain soaked ground, sit by a tree for a while then go find friends and family to communicate with...a lot of tension that I really like in this piece Chris :)

[Chris Shaw]

I share that ache Ruth. I loathe this separation from our nearest and dearest. The thought of communicating from a distance in future without so much of a hug is depressing. Let's hope this new order is short lived. Thank you for your thoughts.

Chris

[light and ashes]

This really shows the pain of this quarantine, a great write.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for your lovely review.

Chris

[light and ashes]

You're welcome :)