The Coin's Other Face

(for those in dark places)

some would say it
resembles tooth decay
on a bad day without
pain relief
.
or a once waxy lemon
left on the side till its juices
have dried, so it pips squeal
to imperfection
.
or even like squeezing blood
from an ancient stone
alone in destructive sand
in a cruel desert
.
it maybe many helping hands
who can't reach across a vast
divide however willing and
hard they try
.
give me a silver shilling
for every dark thought caught
in corridors of the mind
a wealthy woman I would be
.

Reviews

[Papaya]

I'd be right there sharing in the wealth, Chris.
I always appreciate the experiences you share in your writing.
So clear that you've lived and "been there done that".
I find that comforting. Only in the sense that I find it inspiring and admire and respect the strength and warmth you share in equal measure.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Ana. Yes, I have been round the block a few times :) I can certainly say I have seen, heard and experienced some delightfully positive and woefully negative stuff. That's what life is :)
I appreciate your visit abd continued encouragement.

Chris

[Lydia Shutter]

Penny for your thoughts....the dark ones. Yes, I would be wealthy indeed if that were the case. There are times a person tries to help...tries to pull a friend out of the quicksand of despair...only to find out the helping hand is not wanted. I loved the imagery of the dried up lemon. The metaphor of toothache made me cringe! Very well written, Chris. Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks for dropping by Lydi** and leaving such a thoughtful response. Hope all is well with you.

Chris

[Robert Trakofler]

there is something i find thrilling about the word... shilling I have always have, liked that word. It reminds me of the trilling in the needs fulfilling and of course of the chilling of greed for the needs taken from the unwilling! Lets not forget the spilling of the bleeds in killing for a piece of land for tilling for some grains for milling or some oil for drilling and all for some more shillings!

[Chris Shaw]

Bunny I am tickled pink by your rhyming response. All from the word shilling. Way to go. Thank you so much:))

Chris

[Robert Trakofler]

i was in another silly mood:)

[Chris Shaw]

You know silly is contagious. I like it too :))

[Karissa A. Kelly]

This is an absolutely beautiful piece of work. After reading a few of your poems I'm absolutely fascinated by your writing style and I believe you have valuable messages in what you write. Keep up the wonderful work! I greatly look forward to reading your next piece.

[Chris Shaw]

Karissa, thank you for your encouragement. Delighted to have you visit my page. Thank you.
read moreKarissa, thank you for your encouragement. Delighted to have you visit my page. Thank you.

Chris

[Mr. Malarkey]

I can relate very strongly to this. All of the negative thoughts welling up like smoke from a smoldering fire. It can be hard to find your way out of the misery, but at least you know when you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up. In times like this, we could all use a flyswatter to wack that little devil off our shoulder, or to swat away the depressing rain cloud that keeps following us. Just for a little while at least, if not forever. Thanks for sharing this Chris!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mr Malarkey for your thoughtful review. Pleased to have you visit my page. You are most welcome.

Chris

[Alexa Nichols]

I really like this. I'm going to have to check out more of your writing!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Alexa. Pleased to have your encouragement and your visit. Best wishes.
read moreThank you so much Alexa. Pleased to have your encouragement and your visit. Best wishes.

Chris

[light and ashes]

The last stanza is great.....as would I be....as would I..

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for your response Light and Ashes. Pleased to see you visit.

Chris

[light and ashes]

Thank you and you're welcome :)

[John the Baptist]

There are many unique images in this work, but I believe the next to last verse describes most aptly what I believe is the subject of the poem: depression. The picture of willing hands reaching out across a vast divide in vain makes me think of the many people I have known who had that grim disease. The sense of helplessness before an onrushing wave of sorrow describes what they felt as the illness overtook their brains and their lives. It is as close to hell as you can get in this life.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your insights John. Most appreciated.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

Yes... “the other side of the Coin”... could be our future; however, for now, we have to deal with the darkness... fearing the air we breathe... hoping for relief... when an Autumn 🍂 wind blows the Culprit out to Sea 🌊 and far away where Dragons Spit Fire on an Isle of Quick Sand... where Virus’s reside forever doomed.
With abandonment, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Pat, like you I hope this awful darkness will soon burn itself out and our freedom will be restored. Missing so much the power of touch. Thank you dear poet. I feel you from afar.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

Yes, Chris... Poetry reaches the hearts 💕 of
Those who care. gently, Pat

[...]

Darkness is very seductive . We cannot escape but we can try make balance. At our self and outside world. There was so many great artists who make from darkness most beautiful things. What will be decadent poets with their darkness etc. There is also so many artist who went from extreme to extreme one of example can be Italian director Pasolini he make most beautiful movie story from a Bible Gospel according to St. Mathew and then he make more ugly movie what i never finished to see untill the end Salo 120 days of sodoma
. Your poem reminding us we should keep balance if we just write or talk to someone. The world is mirror and we can be light or we can be shadow. Very deep writing is here.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Martin. Yes two sides of the coin represent darkness and light. We need both and it has to be in balance or otherwise we are in trouble. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts here. Most appreciated.

Chris

[Laura Kate]

Oohhhhh - Christine, this is so clever, in quite a chilling way. I exclaimed 'oh no!' aloud for the poor lemon squealing to imperfection, and could practically feel the pain and desperation of the willing hands, unable to reach. All of the drying out and decaying... not a pleasant place to be in. These corridors of the mind can be like prisons when we find ourselves pacing up and down, looking at the same old, concrete walls. There are trees outside, and sunshine, and blue skies, and birds singing. We must remember that.
It's great to read from you today,
Laura.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Laura, so good to have you visit with your thoughts. Many thanks for doing so. Much appreciated.

Chris