Exposure

storm's marauding afterlife

leaves eyes of sunrise squinting

.

brooding cloud formations

hang in black curtain heaviness

.

lined with a sliver of silver hem

gleaming with uncertain promise

.

hurled through rough salty waters

from ocean's dark disturbed bed

.

tossed in a surge of soapy foam

angriest of roller-coasters ride in

.

fossils flung far in shifting swell

beached upon dampened sand

.

naked on soft islands surrounded

by wet glistening shingle sharps

.

ammonites bellemnites picked

by fingers clinging to jurassic finds

.

Reviews

[Lisasview]

I felt like I was there with you dear Chris, after the storm, looking for treasures.... Something I just love to do.
Rained heavily here today but now it is sunny....and we are in June... Oh those poor vacationers... not been great here the past two weeks...
We of course love it... Rain...means not as much watering...
Lisa, shoulder better

[Chris Shaw]

Good your shoulder is getting better. The storm certainly inspired my writing and allowed my imagination to wander. I appreciate you Lisa.

Chris

[Lisasview]

Good morning dear Chris,
7:15 here and I am already on the computer with a nice Cappuccino next to me.
The weather does often inspire...
Lisa

[Chris Shaw]

Have a wonderful day Lisa.

[Lisasview]

Thank you,
Lisa

[Yashi]

I feel lucky after reading such amazing and strong words.......your imagination is super amazing.
will love to read more from you!

[Chris Shaw]

Yashi, I am delighted you visited. Feel free to peruse my back catalogue. I have posted well over 500 poems here now :) "Thank you so much for an encouraging visit. You are appreciated.

Chris

[Yashi]

Sure! I'll love to explore your writings

[Laura Kate]

Once again, Chris, absolutely transported by the imagery and so enjoying the experience.
gleaming with uncertain promise
So fantastically clever. So thoughtful too to have considered the entire journey of the storm, giving character to each part.
Thank you, and best wishes,
Laura.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Laura, thank you so much for your thoughts. You are appreciated.

Chris

[Crowley]

I love those last lines a lot. This was a very active poem with sloshing and sudsing and gleaming and marauding. Its extremely organic and darkly satisfying. Great piece!!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Crowley. Good to see you. Really appreciate you stopping by. All good wishes.

read moreThank you Crowley. Good to see you. Really appreciate you stopping by. All good wishes.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Your imagery of storms ravage is clear and strong, and the aftermath of finding crustaceans, like a Jurassic discovery ….still though uncertain promise that all will be okay….perhaps a metaphor for all to be okay in a relationship, but no promises……very clever and a lovely write Chris😊
Yours tru,y,
B.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous dear Betty for stopping by. Your thoughts always appreciated.

Chris

[keith]

your presentation is most unique with use of dots or periods thus giving subtle direction(s)
and of course i have appreciation for lower case
how amazing it is for a single element to have so many reactions
good write

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you kindly ABG for your thoughts. They are appreciated.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

"good grief Charlie Brown!" ... unbelievably in this age to know that where I live, the Ozark Mountains, use to be under the great sea! It is not difficult to find crustaceans of old embedded along most any rocky pathway. the beautiful and terrible mix Mother Nature shows us many times is moving to me ... your imaging with contrasts and movement are actually quite emotive says i! not to mention the subtle sensuality woven into the metaphor .. this is a "voice" for you isn't it?! i love it! i think the asterisks between each couplet are like gleaming stars ... i think of shiny things of the oceans depths and stars to be gleaned from a lover's bed. a fine piece says i! so glad not to have missed it Chris!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mr E, thank you for your uplifting review following a stormy sea. You even turned the asterisks separating the couplets into shiny stars. Only you could do that. Many thanks for your continued support of my pennings.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

an interesting intersection of Science and nature as relate to your ammonites and belemnites is the Fibonacci number. It relates to the spirals established by his formulae to those found in those shells and other places in Nature. Kind of interesting. ;)

[Chris Shaw]

Now I am just going to have to look that one up Mr E. to find out more. That does sound interesting. Thank you.

[Einstein Noodle]

its pretty amazing what he found ;)

[Ladysue]

wow this is stunning, brilliant poetry.. Love your descriptions and the passion within the storm. What an wow of an ending..very well done..

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Sue, many thanks for your very encouraging review. Pleased you enjoyed this poem.

Chris

[Laz K.]

My first thought was that this poem captures the mood of a storm very well. It made me think of an essay by Sandra Cisneros titled, "Straw into Gold" which is about how an artist turns everyday occurrences into works of art.
Then, I thought about the figurative/symbolic meaning of a storm, and how it can "expose" what we'd been hiding in the depths of our psyche.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Laz, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Yes storms can churn up all sorts of stuff. Not all of it good. Pleased to have a review from you.

Chris

[Phill Oz O'fee]

Exquisite... this is the only word to describe the beautiful imagery, wordplay, and poetic flow of your writing. I was reminded of this quote 'Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.' - Albert Einstein

Bless you my friend :-)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Phill :)

[Ken Simm.]

Wonderful descriptive nature poetry. Just what I like. With that extra dash of beautiful topping taken from a Jurrasic coastline I know well of old. And a further dash of Mary Anning dare I say?

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ken. Yes, Mary Anning, born in Lyme Regis. Not far from where this scene took place.Pleased you found this one, which is so different from the last one of mine you read. I have a very wayward muse, she wanders all over the place:)

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

And that is to the good.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you:)