Confessional

i address my dead loves

and some of those living too

i confess my desire

to hold on to you 

memories are fine when

you are sound of mind

but then there are occasions when

unremarkably streams a need

to feel you again

bring you closer to me

a comfort feather to suage

all longing

that strong bond of mine

of loving and belonging

to each of you i hold dear

you will find you are buried

for safekeeping between

case bound thumbed  pages

my old sleeping bible

the backbone of me even though

these days we share less 

company

there are momentos

dried flowers cards and letters

poems and little treasures for

my soul

to replenish any

split seams of my whole

as time passes by

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too dear Chris.
"my old sleeping bible
the backbone of me even though
these days we share less
company."
I have a old bible. I keep the keep-sakes I need. I do peek at. To remember the kind people I knew. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for relating to my words Coyote. Your thoughts are always appreciated.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome, dear Chris.

[Lathen Griffiths]

Momentos are so lovely to keep, dried lavender rediscovered on even the darkest day is like a little burst of summer, still retaining its scent long after it was squirreled away.

Lovely and heartfelt as always Chris.


Lathe

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lathe for a lovely review. I also love lavender. It reminds me always of my maternal grandmother. Yardleys lavender talc was a firm favourite of hers. I am fortunate enough to have some growing in our garden.

Chris

[red93]

Beautiful concept Chris and really beautifully expressed as well. I am exactly the same - sometimes I still yearn for X from the 70s or Y from the 90s. Sacred or illicit, Lovers' bonds can never be broken or forgotten.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Tony for checking in. Pleased this poem is relatable to you. All good wishes.

read moreThank you Tony for checking in. Pleased this poem is relatable to you. All good wishes.

Chris

[Ada]

Nice on the honoring of family members both dead and alive. I especially liked the transition from keeping memories of literal people to the keeping of their momentos...that in turn represent them.

[Chris Shaw]

I appreciate your thoughts Ada. Thank you so much for stopping by.

Chris

[M. J. Smith]

I keep a rosary in memory of a departed friend. And even now, three decades later, I search for her in the Halls of the local shopping mall. Too well do I know this pain. Heartfelt words shared with beauty. This is why you enchant me, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

What a lovely review this is MJS. Your sharing of your departed friend, touched me. Such a sad situation. You know I still search for my Dad and he has been gone 31 years now. Still having problems trying to write. I am playing with your tattoo phrase in my head. Hope something materialises soon.

Chris

[M. J. Smith]

Let it come when it will, my friend. That is what my friend once told me Bout a poem for school. I was trying too hard. God bless you, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you. I think I am trying too hard as well. At least I have a catalogue of poems I can give an airing to, in the meantime :)

[lightsong]

again.... You bless us with a rare gem, and again You reach private places inside us... and again You touch me deep and true, the title itself is a whole magnificence. what a masterpiece from a Master Poetess ✨

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you lightsong for your glowing review. You have certainly raised my spirits. Pleased you enjoyed the read.

Chris

[Laz K.]

"i confess my desire
to hold on to you ...
there are occasions when
unremarkably streams a need
to feel you again"

These lines cut deep.
Anyone that's loved, really loved, will understand the longing expressed here.
These days one often hears advice such as "just move on" - as if it was a simple choice one could make.
I think sometimes we just have to learn to live with the dull pain of absence; it's not something that one gets over.

I like this poem not just for its content, but for the mature way it expresses its theme.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your understanding words Laz. Not easy choices to make, I agree. I appreciate this visit from you. All good wishes.

Chris

[Dave]

Memories of people and things may be long gone. but not forgotten. Thankfully, if we are lucky, those are the pleasant ones that still shine in our minds like the bright flowers of our youth and not the dried-up petals turning to dust in some stowed away book or album. Fond memories and people that we will ever cherish.
Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave. All good wishes.

Chris

[Poetic Beauty]

I put things inside the case to my Bible which was my grandmas. It is one of my dearest treasure and my grandma kept things in there as well which is where I have left them

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for sharing PB. I know you understand. All good wishes.

Chris

[Patricia]

This is wonderful and very relatable. My memoirs and my memories are that hold those old loves are priceless but memories are fading even with the journals. The shared experiences make us who we are and one must respect them. I don’t consider it a waste of time to look back time to time and give them ink. Aside from one old flame I have remained friends with them, well maybe two now that I think of that but it’s more their part than mine. I love poems like this and thank you for sharing and don’t let them go

[Chris Shaw]

Such a heart warming sharing of thoughts Patricia from a fellow poet. Thank you so much for checking in.

Chris.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

What a moving and touching tribute. Those we love become part of us and we cannot amputate their being from us without ripping out our own hearts and souls. We must hold on to the good and let our memories keep the good in our love alive. Bless.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Fabian for that lovely review. Keep safe and well. Good to see you.

Chris