In The Arms of Mum and Dad

a happy reflection of our family home in the sixties

when I weave through
misted moments
held by silky purple ribbons
tied by sleepless restless hours
while night’s curtains aren’t
for lifting

when the weather wasn’t winter
and our days were overflowing
with uplifting thoughts of heaven
as old church bells chimed
in gladness
when our world knew not of
sadness

i believed in ever afters
as my lessons always taught me
that from goodness and from kindness
we would reap a golden harvest
if our thoughts were full of love

so we rambled on the hill tops
and we lost ourselves in steam clouds
from the bridge at roughdown common
as the engines rattled northwards
on the tracks to nowhere matters

then our family was a bouquet
we were seeds that wouldn’t scatter
we were flowers filled with fragrance
we were glass that never shattered
in our little country haven
in our story book of wonder
where each one of us was precious
in those arms of mum and dad

Reviews

[JENNY]

Surely Mom and Dad are the best gift God could have blessed us with . This poem just adorably explains the strongest bond between parents and the child . Thanks for sharing such a wonderful piece of art Chris. And a very joyful New Year to you and your loved ones .

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jenny for that lovely comment. I was certainly blessed as a child with strong family. Happy new year to you and yours too. Keep happy and healthy.

Chris

[JENNY]

Thanks Chris for your warm greetings. And you deserve to complemented on such beautiful thought of your. May god bless me someday that certainly I’ll be able to write as good as you.

[Chris Shaw]

You are so kind my friend.

[Betty Hermelee]

Dear Chris...your uplifting words portraying your childhood, with the love from your parents is something that I never had, especially from my mother...so it makes me feel god when you describe your childhood in the arms of your mother and father and how you flourished under their care...it's so important to remember those earlier days, especially now that we're grownups having to ride the tide of troubling times...
a beautiful write Chris, every word!
Warmly, B

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Betty, I am saddened that you didn’t have the same experience as I did. I have been blessed. Thank you my friend. Hope all is good with you.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank dear Chris for your words about my up upbringing ..not as blessed as you were, but I’m fine now with a happy life and thankful for it… take good care and Happy Holidays!
Warmly, B

[lightsong]

Oh my dear... that very last lines... hauntingly beautiful... life now adays no longer the same as the simple, wonderful blessed life in old days. another moving masterpiece from your golden pen. Love You 🤍

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear lightsong. I was blessed with wonderful parents and grandparents. My siblings have remained a major part of my life, so we share great memories.

Chris

[Mauricio Montoya]

Chris I'm reading this with great sadness my father and mother got married at a young age or opposite attraction so left us with grandma and she was Catholic, the line old church bells chimed, wow that's what got me in poetry it's the interpretation of the reader see, I love it were flowers where our seeds won't scatter. My father passed away but Mom is still alive but we haven't spoke for 20 years, excellent write, I may not have dad in my arms but there's still time for mom.
Thank you for sharing. It's heart felt.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mauricio and for sharing your sad story with me. I appreciate that. All the best.

Chris

[Mauricio Montoya]

You're a good writer,wow your words probably touch many hearts but you've made me read and understand what it means to be a poet.
Thank you for sharing.

[Chris Shaw]

I will cherish that comment. Thank you so much. Have a very happy and healthy 2023 Mauricio.

[Gee]

Never had mum and dad only mum, and she was rushed off her tiny plates trying to work 3 jobs to make ends meet, so her love expressed, only realised in later life, by the sacrifice of her own "living" so that we were fed, watered, clothed and shod.
Have me a good grounding, work ethic and a loathing of slackers and the woe is me brigade :)

[Chris Shaw]

Your mum was one in a million. What a hard working woman she was. Bet she was proud of you Gee. Thanks fir yet another read. You are very much appreciated.

Chris

[Gee]

😎........

[M]

Home is our sanctuary and our parents are the pillars that keep us safe within it. We need to cherish their arms for as long as possible for one day they will not be there to keep us safe. It reads like a happy childhood in which you grew up. I enjoyed your share, Chris Shaw.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Makhabat. Pleased you stopped by today to leave your thoughts. I appreciate you.

Chris

[Elizabeth]

very beautiful and heartwarming. Your words convey the sense of absolute safety and comfort we felt when we were younger with our parents really well

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Elizabeth. Really appreciate those thoughts of yours.

Chris

[Neville]

I hope in time, these words are read by thousands, but even then, as indeed, I'm sure they eventually shall be, I have no doubt at all, that not a single one, will enjoy them quite as much as I did, just now .. since they are near perfect ............... I forgot to mention, make it a double & have one on me :)

[Chris Shaw]

What a lovely thing to say Neville. So pleased you enjoyed them. A happy childhood is indeed a blessing. Puts you in good stead for all the shite that comes further down the line :) There’s cheerful for ya :) Keep warm my friend and well tanked up (off duty only) .

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

reminds me of when I was little...and they would never grow old, or pass...unthinkable.
they made us feel safe.
this is so beautifully written.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks J. I remember that feeling of being completely safe and that mum and dad could fix anything. I appreciate your thoughts my friend.

Chris