Gaia Gifts

(turning a downturn into a positive)

relentless rain does not contain
this river to its normal flow
its surge and swell has burst its banks
and filled the lakes with overspill

yet where the flooded waters creep
with belly fattened oversize
a feast of beauty where old sol
looks on the scene with winter eyes

diluted sun spreads through thick mist
i fail to see where water ends
for sky and river are but one
i stand before the flood plain edge

surveying all the damage done
admiring light with sun glaze haze
my skin and soul absorb it all
full mast this is the best of days

Reviews

[Neville]

Gaia rarely gets it wrong .. and even on those odd occasions when it is easier to blame her than man's own in inadequacy and incompetence's, at the end of the day, she is so easy to forgive because her writes are far greater than her collective wrongs .. Neville :)

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Neville for stopping by. Seems like an age. Happy Sunday.

Chris

[Neville]

my pleasure treasure and back at thee tooly :)

[W. Barrett Munn]

“my skin and soul absorb it full mast”

This is a great poetic line.

Winston

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Winston. I very much appreciate your thoughts. Happy Sunday.

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

This flows like the flood it talks about. It also gets into places normal poems don't. A smooth and continuous special write. Of course living on the side of a mountain up here the water does not so much flow around but through.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ken. I would imagine you gave your own special brand of beauty after the downpours. Really appreciate your kind comments. Have a lovely Sunday.

Chris

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

This paints for me the image of why I used to drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway every morning to watch the sun rise. The mist would hang heavy over the water, the air was crisp and clean, and the sun would rise through the thin veil of morning air. This is a gift from Gaia indeed. Well done!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Linda. We both know the value of the sun. Gaia certainly gifts. I appreciate your visit and your share.

Chris

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

My pleasure.

[willweb]

Where are live, we are prone to flooding and in 1998 the 500 year flood hit and like your poem states, " for sky and river are but one" That is exactly how it looked and the damage was quite severe but fortunately, not for my house and the river is my property line. Someone was watching out for me. Loved your poem bug hope you are not going through something similar

[Chris Shaw]

Hello will. We live a couple of miles from the river and at the top of a hill, so no problems for us. So far the lock keepers have managed to control most of the flood water, so no damage to homes. The flood plain though is awash and magnificent it looks too in the mist and pale sunlight. Pleased to hear your home was safe. I have every sympathy for those who suffer flooding. Many thank yous for your share.

Chris

Chris

[AYVID N]

The swelling river must be spellbinding in its beauty when burnished by the sun's melting glaze. Your words bring to mind a golden mist hanging over the river. One would think the relentless rain dulls the scape but the poem brings out the beauty even in that downpour. The skin and the soul absorb the powerful and captivating rush of Nature and we feel so grateful for it.

[Chris Shaw]

Your thoughtful review tells me I was able to convey what I saw DIVYA and I am thankful for that. Out of destruction comes hope and beauty. I was lifted by what I saw.

Chris

[AYVID N]

The scenery was as beautiful as the message underlying it. I always look forward to your poems. You are welcome, dear Chris.

[M]

I cherish a day of streaming sunlight after the rains myself, though I am getting neither at present. Just endless clumps of snow. I look forward to the strength of the sun returning to melt away these winter woes. A most hopeful poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Makhabat. Snow without a glimpse of sunlight tells me there is much to look forward to soon. The floods can cause damage, but the plus side is the sunlight turns them into something spectacular. I appreciate your visit very much.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

Men believe, they can control nature. Men cannot. I saw the Big Sur burning away and coming alive so quickly. I liked the way you described the floods. Myself. I saw too much water damage to live near a river or a lake. Gentle water can turn to monster. Thank you dear Chris for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Coyote. You are so right. We can not harness nature and even when she is most cruel she can gift us beauty. Have a great day.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Chris.

[Another Relic]

You paint a beautiful picture here, Chris. Nature is such a gift to those who can see it in all its glory. What some can only imagine, others can see with their own eyes. :)

[Chris Shaw]

It was so stunning, I got out of the car to take it all in. Sunlight through the mist on a huge expanse of water. Memorable. Thanks Tim. Nature is surely a blessing.

Chris

[Sami Khalil]

"relentless rain does not contain
this river to its normal flow
its surge and swell has burst its banks
and filled the lakes with overspill"

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Sami.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome 😊.

[Sami Khalil]

Mother Earth does gift us many things. Your words of appreciation spill beauty to the final destination, into the ocean of mystery explained in layman's terms. You are gifted too and gifting your readers.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Sami I wish everyone could have seen what inspired this write. It would have been good for the soul. Thank you kindly for your visit and words of appreciation. It means a lot.

Chris

[Sami Khalil]

I can imagine. You are welcome Chris.