Reluctant Return

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

Reviews

[Ayvid N]

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!

[Chris Shaw]

Another apology from me DIVYA. I don’t know what happened three weeks ago, but I appeared to have missed some of my reviews. I always treasure yours and send another apology. 💐❤️

[Ayvid N]

Awww...No worries at all, dear Chris!
I know how much you care and I feel blessed to have you here. Thank you so much for appreciating my words always.

[FGFRANKLIN]

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.

[Matthew Kult]

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

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Matthew. This type of murder was unheard of where I live in the countryside. The serenity of the place is tainted and it is too painful to think of what happened there. A premeditated murder by teenage kids. Too close to home and the parents of the boy killed are devastated as are the parents of the perpetrators. Organised online. Sad world we live in. I appreciate your thoughts and your visit.

Peace and love.

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

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.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ken. A beautiful place of serenity now tainted. I have only been able to return once since. I used to walk our dog there frequently. Now it is just a memory. I don’t want to walk in the shadows of evil. Have a great Sunday.

Chris

[Seriana]

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.

[Chris Shaw]

The tragedies have to be remembered too. The fact that this occurred where I used to take my dog walking, a place of serenity fir me, makes it even more painful. I have only been back there once. I can’t go where evil lurks. Thank you my friend. Have a good Sunday.

Chris

[willweb]

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.

[Chris Shaw]

A beautiful place for me, serene and peaceful. Now tainted. I have only been able to return once. I miss that place as it was. Thank you will. I appreciate you. We have to write about the tragedies as well as the joys.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

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.

[Chris Shaw]

Far too close to home. Where I used to walk my dog John. A place of serenity and outstanding beauty now tainted. I have only been able to return once. Teenagers and blades a nightmare ongoing. Thank you for the read.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

"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

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Oat. It was a place of outstanding beauty and serenity.I have memories but have only been able to return once. It is just too close to home and I don’t wish to venture where evil lurks. Have a peaceful Sunday, the pair of you. Sending love 🌺

[Neville]

.. 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

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your thoughtful review Neville. We have to write about the tragedies too. Life is not a bundle of joy for so many. Far from it. The victim’s parents living a nightmare. The perpetrators parents too. Organised online. I have lost my favourite walking place. Only being able to return once. It is tainted in my mind.

Chris

[Neville]

I can understand that Chris .. I have always said that it aint all about love n pretty things n stuff now havent I .. Neville

[Soren]

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

[Chris Shaw]

Please accept my apologies for the tardy response to your review. So much appreciated to find this today Soren. Big thank yous coming your way.

Chris

[Soren]

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