On The Grapevine

(for Tony)

song of old friendships

remembered in the lambent flame

of a scented candle

i call your name

as the blues creep in

too late for the funeral

but not to grieve

farewell my friend

bon voyage

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

the blues, the scented candle...for me the sound of the guitar...
the loss of special friends, that starts reminding us of our own mortality...and that we too have a passage booked on that voyage, sooner or later.
and we continue to grieve long after our friends are gone.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

So true Jacob, with another friend passing it does remind us of our own mortality. We all have to make that journey. Rather later than sooner. Thank goodness for memories.

Chris

[johnwick7057]

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[Unspoken poet]

sorry for the loss, I don't handle grief well. I never know what to do or how to feel.
You did well here.

[Chris Shaw]

Grief effects us all differently. You have to go with the flow. Thank you Kay - T.

Chris

[Just Kim]

aww i am so sorry for your loss.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Kymberleigh for your visit. Much appreciated.

Chris

[Robert Trakofler]

your heart is so much more brighter than that candle could ever blaze dear Chris! beautiful as always your expression. I am sorry for your loss

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Bunny for your lovely response. Sending you all good wishes from this side of the pond.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you so much for this poem Christine! I have so many old friends who are lost to me ... several I have searched and searched to re-connect with .. in vain ... its just that I want to say hello .. catch up just a little ... so we know we haven't forgotten .. so we can then perhaps say goodbye .. i am sure one or two most likely are past on ... the last grapevine news i had of them ..and i'm talkin' maybe 15 yrs ago .. was not on the positive side of lifestyle ... but i grieve for them ... they were big parts of my life as a very young man .. as friends tend to be .. i love your poem! your gift as a poetess is always present in your stuff ... the flow and readability always present .. some with rhyme .. some with form .. always with rhythm and wisdom ... i'm a fan girl .. and this one is special for me!
E.
ps.https://youtu.be/5ZnrZnFSlWU

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Mr E. I'm so pleased this little poem has special meaning for you. In life we meet many, lose touch, meet up again. The cycle is endless. This was for Tony a work friend for many, many years. Hadn't heard from him for a while and then found out he had died from a stroke, six months earlier by another work friend. I was so upset. Too young by far. This was all I could do. A little poem to mark what he meant to me. Thank you for the link. I played it. Not a version I have heard before. I really enjoyed Marvin. I hope you are keeping safe and well in your neck of the woods. Sending you the warmest of wishes. So delighted you like my poems :))

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

back at ya Chris ... safe as can be .. covid has not changed my life much at all ... i am in a fortunate place and state of mind that doesn't go into town often anyway ;) and when I do I don't have a fear of it ... as a Registerd Nurse in PICU washing hands and all that are second nature ... a big good morning to ya! i think your poetry is mwahvelous! :)

[moog-drika]

This is such a beautiful way of saying goodbye to a close friend. Even if someone goes away forever, such poetry keeps the souls of the friends connected. It actually triggered my emotions. Why do people have to go!
Anyway. Love the picture it depicts. Powerful and poignant.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear moog-drika thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. All good wishes.

Chris

[barleygirl]

This is so vivid in a softly fuzzy way. Reminds me of my best friend, RIP 5 years ago, & your poem captures that feeling I have where this person may be gone, but is really never gone. Also love the implication that death is just a continuation of the voyage of life & we'll be there to hold hands with a friend again eventually (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Margie, tha k you so much for your encouraging review. Good to have you back on WC.

read moreDear Margie, tha k you so much for your encouraging review. Good to have you back on WC.

Chris

[Jon Roggie]

A touch of grief, and a touch of memories, and a wistful farewell,
knowing we will meet again.
Until then,
May the journey be grand!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jon for your review. Much appreciated.

Chris

[Relic]

The candle represents silence and the strength of spirit to me. The loss of someone brings them to mind as strong as the flame, but the sadness will ultimately drip over like a scar. Grief is always for a time. But good memories can last a lifetime.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Tim. Good to see you here. Thanks for your review. Hope all is good with you.

Chris

[L.E.Osborne]

Beautiful poetry, a nice first poem to get back into the swing of things on this site again! Awesome x

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for youroveky review. Good to see you.

Chris

[sonnie ibadah]

The sombre tone and raw emotion of loss in this is so touching.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you sonnie for visiting and leaving a response. You are appreciated.

Chris