Where The Shade Falls

where reigns the oak a mighty king
the beech is surely England's queen
beneath her dense green canopy
that hides me from a cloudless sky
i watch as from this river bank
the cruisers with their ease of grace
so gently smoothly sail on by

oh Fagus god of this fine tree
today in overbearing heat
i thank you for the use of shade
i thank you for the softest breeze
and from the inner core of me
i curtsey to this queen of queens
for growing in this welcome glade

Reviews

[Orphic dreamer]

“beneath her dense green canopy
that hides me from a cloudless sky
i watch as from this river bank”
You have so beautifully mastered the art of meticulous details in poetry. Each word just so magically paints a vivid picture! Fascinating work!

[Chris Shaw]

Your lovely review is so encouraging. Many thank yous.

Chris

[Vol]

Chris,
There are few things more fulfilling than a love of trees! I have a lifetime of woody friends A magnolis in Pensacola, a Live Oak in gulf Breeze, a tall oak in Atlanta, That Weeping willow and the Mimosa I raised from pencil thin seedlings to massive adults by the pond!
Nice poem!
Vol

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Vol. I have an affinity with trees too. I loved hearing about the ones special to you. I have a silver birch outside my window. My centurion. Been there through thick and thin for 42 years. I hope to God he sees me out. I wouldn’t want it the other way round. I appreciate you.

Chris

[Vol]

Chris,
I know, right... it is a great sadness to me that there are so few here, I planted five willows three years ago and they are now about eight feet tall, but still saplings... They are easy to watch in the breezes, and are of a variety that is supposed to grow rapidly... I'm old so they better!
Vol

[Chris Shaw]

Enjoy those willows. They are incredibly graceful trees with wonderful movement. We have lots here by the Thames.

[Vol]

I don't care what kind of tree I'd be, but I'd want to marry a willow.

[Anita Frader]

A lovely poem about trees with some nice imagery.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Anita for your visit and appreciation of this piece. Pleased you stopped by.

read moreThank you Anita for your visit and appreciation of this piece. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[Thomas W Case]

Truly a brilliant use of language and imagery.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Thomas. An older poem out for an airing.

Chris

[Melinda McQueen]

I so love this. It made me feel warm inside. There was something about it that refreshed my spirit. It took me back to when I would sit outside and just feel... calm. Thanks for the reminder.
Such a delightful, soothing write.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks for stopping by Melinda. You are appreciated.

Chris

[.]

A serene picture depicted here, and it's so soothing, ... Riverbank and a large tree with beautiful canopy... I can spend there hours:)... It's beautiful as always

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Sima, thank you for your visit. I am on the river today as well. Not nearly as hot as the day I wrote the poem you have just read. Much cooler, but plenty of trees to enjoy.

Chris

[.]

Oh, wow, enjoy your stay there... Sending love

[Chris Shaw]

Love to you too dear poet :)

[Einstein Noodle]

beautiful ... love ye olde English language flavor to it ... i have never given much thought to the beech trees i have run into unawares ... we are pines and hardwoods for the most part .. in surrounding forests .. your poem moved me to look them up a bit and those spiny nuts that fall from them are a dead give away should the root, trunk and canopy be inconsequential to the eye. i think you have done them justice, Chris! a simply lovely read and experience ... more so for tree hugging enthusiasts ;)
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mr E, thank you for your lovely review. Yes, I am a tree hugger :) More than thankful on that scorching day for the shade gifted to us. Thank you also for reminding me about the blue moon. Sadly, the sky was filled with cloud, so I did not see it, but I imagined it instead, in all its shining glory. Take good care of yourself.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

When's the last time you forgot the world for a month?

[Chris Shaw]

How can you forget the world with all that's going on for more than a few minutes? Maybe it's time to write a poem about the heavens and eternity :) Thanks for stopping by Dave.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

There's a lot of places. It's hard though. One way or the other. I bet the world will get easier all around, but, we'll be very dead when this happens. Sigh

[John the Baptist]

Odd, I never thought it got that hot in Merry Olde. Climate change is forcing new conditions on all of us. The heat index here in southeast Virginia was 100 today. I could certainly have used a few beech trees around me.

[Chris Shaw]

We have our moments John. Not often and I have to say I prefer the shade when it gets that hot. The heat in your summers in your part of the world would do me in :) Thanks for stopping by.

Chris

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

This is such a beautiful piece Chris. I can visually see in my minds eye the images of nature you painted with your words. That along with the folklore combines into a lovely narrative. Thank you for always sharing your art with us.

[Chris Shaw]

I have to thank you too Carlos for gracing my page and reading my efforts. You are truly appreciated. Have a great day.

Chris