Reluctant Return

Reluctant Return

A Poem by Chris Shaw

too late today with timing
to see rolled hay bales
in cut meadow grass
they'd already gone along
with the crows in rows
that resembled musical 
notes upon a song sheet 
of September gold 

i hadn't wanted to pass
that place that made the
headlines shout out in winter
blues over a year ago 
since then the seasons have
arrived and left like that
coverlet of snow which hid 
the ground where he'd been
found

lifeless

teenagers with blades
with one slain and there in
his memory a youthful tree
branches decked with 
keepsakes and wind chimes 
gently swaying in a warm
breeze

a quiet corner of our 
valley's beautiful landscape
where such a violent act
a pact premeditated ended
in tragedy and stain
before long he will be
forgotten someone's much 
loved son a further statistic 
loose set in another day 
turned rotten

© 2022 Chris Shaw


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Featured Review

At the outset, let me compliment you on the stunning imagery in the following lines:

crows in rows
that resembled musical
notes upon a song sheet
of September gold

Reading this was so inspiring. A standard of writing we all aspire to.

The heart bleeds for these children taken so much before time. Indeed, such violence mars the beauty of all creation. There is something so rotten in the world for this to happen. It's so against the grain of Nature and all things beautiful.

A poem filled with such beauty and compassion!

Posted 1 Year Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

1 Year Ago

Another apology from me DIVYA. I don’t know what happened three weeks ago, but I appeared to have .. read more
AYVID N

1 Year Ago

Awww...No worries at all, dear Chris!
I know how much you care and I feel blessed to have you.. read more



Reviews

Such an eerie and ominous feeling pervades this write along with the feeling of dread. We are subjected to unsympathetic reality thrusting itself into our utopian dream of beauty via an act of brutal violence. You express the feeling well through your poem.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Tragically painful. He was someone's son and it's hard to realize that he will indeed fall into a stat. That's everyday where I am at. Murder is just counted as another number and what can we do to lower that number? We forget that a person lost their life.

Great read.

With love,

Matthew

Posted 1 Year Ago


Chris Shaw

1 Year Ago

Thank you Matthew. This type of murder was unheard of where I live in the countryside. The serenity .. read more
I love the pastorale start to this disturbing description of England today. The whole is something else entirely. Disturbing,alas it is, I can't say wonderful but educational is not the word I'm looking for either. Disappointing would send completely the wrong message because it is not about the writing it is about the subject and the events that roll from that.Almost dystopian in its contrasts and yet somehow beautiful at the same time.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Chris Shaw

1 Year Ago

Thank you Ken. A beautiful place of serenity now tainted. I have only been able to return once since.. read more
I respect your boldness and strength in writing about tough topics to see. Many would not. Even in tragedy there is something to be gleaned. A lesson? An observation? Or even just a pause to think on things. Far too often, these statistics are becoming common place but they needn't be. Your words lay to rest someone. Someone's someone, not to be forgotten. Thank you for reminding.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Chris Shaw

1 Year Ago

The tragedies have to be remembered too. The fact that this occurred where I used to take my dog wal.. read more
Wow Chris. Such a dark and heartbreaking poem that originated in a beautiful corner of the world only to leave it covered in blood. Very edgy.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Chris Shaw

1 Year Ago

A beautiful place for me, serene and peaceful. Now tainted. I have only been able to return once. I .. read more
Teenagers with blades seem to dominate many a headline but you describe in such detail the impact of having witnessed the aftermath as a shrine to a local tragedy which really has an impact as it is literally too close to home.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Chris Shaw

1 Year Ago

Far too close to home. Where I used to walk my dog John. A place of serenity and outstanding beauty .. read more
"crows in rows that resembled musical notes upon a song sheet of September Gold" is so poetic and reminds me of many days and weeks we camped on my Grandparents Land. It offered Peaceful platitudes ... then years later a Fire burned half of the Forty Acres. My Cousins home and her deceased parents home was spared. They still live there and their Parents Home is kept and renovated as a Family Album. I agree with Divya's Review of your opening lines. it tugs at my Heart strings like a Musician playing a Harp. softly, Pat

Posted 1 Year Ago


Chris Shaw

1 Year Ago

Thank you Oat. It was a place of outstanding beauty and serenity.I have memories but have only been .. read more


.. So sad .. you leave nothing to the imagination here Chris & I marvel at how you can turn such a tragic event into something so felt .. the whole page is yet another testimony to your poetic prowess .. Neville

Posted 1 Year Ago


Chris Shaw

1 Year Ago

Thank you for your thoughtful review Neville. We have to write about the tragedies too. Life is not.. read more
Neville

1 Year Ago


I can understand that Chris .. I have always said that it aint all about love n pretty thing.. read more
Chris this poem took a twist. I have worked hay and was taken back to those times in my youth and the peacefulness of the farm only to be turned into a violent act. This like cold water in the face woke me out of a dream into reality and left me with a feeling of sadness and despair. The last stanza set the concrete and left the mark. Very well written

Posted 1 Year Ago


Chris Shaw

1 Year Ago

Please accept my apologies for the tardy response to your review. So much appreciated to find this t.. read more
Chris this poem took a twist. I have worked hay and was taken back to those times in my youth and the peacefulness of the farm only to be turned into a violent act. This like cold water in the face woke me out of a dream into reality and left me with a feeling of sadness and despair. The last stanza set the concrete and left the mark. Very well written

Posted 1 Year Ago



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Added on September 2, 2022
Last Updated on September 2, 2022

Author

Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw

Berkshire, United Kingdom



About
Albert, my paternal grandfather introduced me to Tennyson when I was nine. I have loved poetry ever since but did not attempt writing a single piece until I was 40. It's never too late to try somethin.. more..

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