Revelation

(turning a negative into a positive)

in the rush to clear
all evidence of careless
a fragment of broken glass
from a shattered vase
escaped a dustpan
and bristle brush

no one noticed its fate
though seen by the keen eye
of the late day sun
a spotlight fell upon
damage done

it blinded a certain someone
with its dazzling display
of flash bulb bright
how well it shone

what’s this here he said
as he knelt down to retrieve
the forgotten shard
left on a varnished floor
glinting in its last chance glory
before it was laid to rest

plain it had been in its
everyday
insignificant in its own way
and yet now to be remembered
not for what it had once been
but how glorious it became
at its ending

Reviews

[DIVYA]

Dear Chris,

In breaking, there was liberation from structure and there was such glory! The shard broke free and how it dazzled. That was the zenith of it's unremarkable existence. It's moment in time. For a few moments it forgot what it was and rose above and beyond itself to blind someone absolutely with its brilliance.

Life is like that. It gives one unexpected moments to shine and in the most unlikely of ways. Perhaps, we are all stars in our own right. We all have that ability in us to dazzle the world with our brilliance but that moment of breaking, that moment of reckoning, becoming a shard did not happen. Yet. Again, anything is possible till there is life in us.

My friend, this is one of the most soul stirring metaphors I have read in years and your words have brought it to life by way of a myriad of thoughts and feelings. I'll keep this poem always close to me for the sheer beauty and hope it brought me. A true revelation it is!

[Chris Shaw]

I am thrilled by your review Divya and that you have saved this poem to your favorites. A huge thank you from me. Have a wonderful Tuesday 🌹

Chris

[DIVYA]

You're welcome, dear Chris. I loved this poem. ❤

[Betty Hermelee]

Dear Chris...a perfect title for this lovely poem, especially the ending.....I've always said (as I give away "things" to charity...what's thrown away by someone is someone else's treasure)...and it applies here loosely...one little shard of glass mistakenly left on the floor was noticed by someone who thought it a treasure...a wonderful piece that shows us what happens in everyday life....we all sweep up broken glass, and leave a shard or two, but almost never does someone discover a keepsake... love you ideas!!!
Warmly, B

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Betty. An old poem out for an airing. That shard shone in its final moments. A reminder of how beautiful the whole vase had been. Pleased you enjoyed this poem and the metaphor I used. Have a happy Friday. 🌹

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Always a pleasure Chris
Happy Friday to you as well!
Warmly, B

[Martiya Daman]

I really liked this poem! The broken glass became super pretty when the sun shined on it. It was cool how something tiny and forgotten turned into something special. I think it shows how even small things can be important if you look close enough. Good job, Chris! :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Martiya. I think you are right. I appreciate you leaving your thoughts here. Have a great day.

Chris

[Dylan Macadham]

Another Wow, Chris!!! Sooo Imaginative! So well and joyfully written! And an intriguing Message! Definitely firing on all cylinders!!!🤩

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Dylan. An older write. I appreciate your review.

Chris

[Red Brick Keshner]

So simple but wielded profoundly! Quite an OCD moment for me, sweeping up and mopping up after some shattered China… for sure a shard or two would escape later to make themselves known in a quiet but no less spectacular way. Such is life! Such wonderful metaphors to be had here, Chris.
Freds.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Freds. Pleased you found some value in my broken vase poem. Strange where inspiration comes from. Have a good day.

Chris

[Red Brick Keshner]

Not so strange the beauty that poets create Chris!
Freds.

[Stella Armour]

Not everything is beautiful but there is some beauty in everything in unexpected places.

The vase will long be remembered not for its life but it glory in death.

Some small things really do catch the attention of poets , who else could write a tribute like this ?

Stella

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Stella. Strange where we can get our inspiration from. Hope you are enjoying your afternoon chill:)

Chris

[Stella Armour]

yes thanks , snooker finished early so i dozed off lol.

[Pete]

deep and telling. i could just picture it all, that bright light inhibiting my ability to see. perhaps sometimes parts can be more than the sum.

"The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us. Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star." - Thoreau

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Pete. Many thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts. Hope all is good with you.
read moreHello Pete. Many thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts. Hope all is good with you.

Chris

[nj coleman]

Do you remember the first time you heard an album or a band or a song that simply blew you away? First time I heard The Beatles Revolver album ("For No One") or Led Zeppelin's "Misty Mountain Hop" or Dire Straits "Money for Nothing"...I stood, jaw agape...almost frozen in awe. (As you can see. I'm much older than you.)
Honestly, that's how I feel after reading this incredible poem.
I was reminded of an unsung hero I once read about from the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941 (OK, I'm not that old!). His ship was sinking yet he stayed in his station so he could lead others to safety. He was killed. One of thousands of sailors on a ship in life. Glorious and heroic in death.
We need not die, however, to shine in our new existence. A new leaf, a new passion (you writing poetry at age 40), a new love.
Thank you for a wonderful "jaw agape, frozen in awe" feeling.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much nj. That’s some review you left me. Interesting what you had to say. As to the music and bands I remember them all. I am no spring chicken. More than pleased you liked my poem. All the very best.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Chris,,, The Book of Revelation is indeed the Prophecy
of the End. All the Beauty of our Earth was ignored for one brief moment. And now we know ... Creation was a Shakespearian performance. gently, Pat "Where have all the Flowers gone...

[Neville]

this whole beautiful page both illustrates in truest poetic form and otherwise also exemplifies the underlying principles and the validity and purpose of the perceived unity of opposites .. it is therefore, far more important, than many might first imagine .. at least in my own humble opinion ..
Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Your lovely review is very encouraging. As to the unity of opposites, I need to do some reading about that. Pleased you enjoyed the read Neville and I was delighted you stopped by.

Chris

[Callista Howard]

I love reading your poem it reminded me of how glorious our Father is he is truly awesome you wrote this with care and love. Thank you for sharing

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Scarlette for your visit and for your thoughts. So pleased you enjoyed the poem. All the best.

Chris