Shades Of Bland

smokey grey bleeds into a grim day

far away a horizon line defined

by a deeper shade of sea

no silver ribbons gleam on breakers

not a streak of colour in sight

of sea water's wall

sail boats skim surface as mist

rolls in on a sudden whim, in ghostly

eerie trails

encroaching with its flimsy flying

wedding veils, eyes ever searching

pockets form, swirling twirling

in she glides at pace as though in a

race, no ferries will chase today's

white crested waves

insipid neutral shades of dull

hulls and sterns of boats obscured

by hazy creep

yet there's comfort in grey moments

confined to slate grey dreams

claustrophobia wrapped in a wool

Reviews

[Red Brick Keshner]

Grey was my adolescent self's colour of choice. It was comforting to me beyond the imagination of those that saw drabness and gloom, on on end of the spectrum, and sartorial dignity on the other. But the real revelation is that is also brought on a familiar claustrophobia. Quite a profound line of thinking along the lines of this poem. Thanks for sharing, Chris. 　

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks for your thoughts here Frederick. Like you I too found comfort in the greys and still do on occasions. Pleased you stopped by. All good wishes.

Chris

[Lydia Shutter]

I could see the fog rolling in...erasing all the scenery as it did. No ships dare to dock in such weather. It would be foolhardy. Your words are so descriptive, Chris. Just wonderful! Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Lydi**, so pleased you enjoyed this coastal scene as the sea mists swept in. Quite something. The speed it happened as well. Thank you and have a lovely weekend.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

There is something beautiful about grey, the wispy waves, the mist obscuring the boats coming in; It's eerie in a way, but quiet, peaceful, as if the boats are protected by a a blanket, not bare but safe...."slate grey dreams" colorless dreams of nesting in a cocoon...
Lovely write Chris.
Best, B

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased you enjoyed the grey day and I thank you Betty for leaving such a thoughtful review.

Chris

[Miss Sharon]

(in she glides at pace as though in a race, no ferries will chase today's white crested waves) What a beautiful picture this created in my mind! I used to live near the ocean and this brought back happy memories for me. Thank you. ~Sharon

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Sharon for leaving a lovely review. Hope all is good in your world.

Chris

[Aura]

The last stanza really speaks to me :

"yet there's comfort in grey moments
confined to slate grey dreams
claustrophobia wrapped in a wool" : there is comfort in the grey, a blurry state, not directly black or white. The grey blur is like claustrophobia, squishing us, yet making us comfortable and cozy like we are wrapped in wool. Thanks for sharing!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Aura. Pleased that this write meant something to you. Glad you stopped by.

Chris

[Aura]

The pleasure is all mine!

[William Michael Reeves]

I agree! There is comfort in shades of grey. Not too hot or cool. Intense or bland. Grey could become black, or white however we want to push it. But why when we're in neutral we're not using gas.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Bill. There are times when the neutral colours are all we need. Pleased you stopped by.read moreThank you Bill. There are times when the neutral colours are all we need. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[Fabian G. Franklin]

What wonderful descriptions of the gray and sultry sea. I've been out there when it's like that. You nailed it with "claustrophobia wrapped in wool". Very nice write. F.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fabian for your very encouraging review. Yes there is much beauty in greys. Have a good day.

Chris

[Robert Haigh]

This reminds me of holidays spent in Filey, on the Yorkshire coast. My father had a static caravan on a site there, and my wife and I usually took our sons for a holiday there every summer, when they were young. A lovely place with a beautiful golden beach, but those sea frets and grey mists often crept in. Sometimes they totally obscured the sea. When that happened all we saw were shades of grey! Great memories though. A very well-written, atmospheric poem, Chris!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Robert. You have taught me a new word - sea frets, never heard that expression before. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[Ranger Kessel]

Well written expression of happy days. Very nice imagery. Thanks fir posting.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for stopping by Ranger. You are appreciated. All good wishes...

Chris

[barleygirl]

One of the best "shades-of-gray" poems ever written to show the sea on a bland day! It's pretty startling when a day is so utterly without color & you've captured that devastating look with intensity. I love how your imagery is so lively & imaginative, almost as if to juxtapose the dull dreary scene by painting it in a dynamic way (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for dropping by and leaving such a great review Margie. All the best to you :)

read moreThank you for dropping by and leaving such a great review Margie. All the best to you :)

Chris