Question

how many return tides over a
lifetime of a local fisherman

have licked cobbled stones clean
on a slipway’s slippery incline

wet now with glisten in monotonous
Monday morning rain

drip drip dripping and spilling
from guttering on to pavement people

who pass by where mute swans drink
freshwater from floors of small craft

bob bob bobbing and swaying to the
tune of grey misty days

while the basin fills to brimful and
green slime is briefly hidden

from the harbour’s lower walls
drowning in salt sea history

Reviews

[M]

Sounds like the kind of cold, wet, grey day that Britain is sometimes known for, the kind where it's best to stay inside and keep dry and curl up with a good book. I understand that monotonous scenery; it gets like that here in Bishkek through most of winter where almost everything is grey or white. Your use of repetition gives us a sense of that monotonous, almost boring view. Perfect weather for the swans, though. A poem jam packed with keen observations and images, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Not holiday weather Makhabat. Plenty to see though through a window. Swans love the rain. Many thank yous for stopping by to review.

Chris

[William Michael Reeves]

An eternity of tides
slip on clean stones
awash in redundant rain
pouting people pave
silent fresh floors
grey in the bobbing sway
swimming in slime
drowning in the harbor.

Does that answer your question?

billigami

[Chris Shaw]

Hello bill, I like your response here. A nice bit of brevity. Thank you for your visit. Strange how the mind wanders when the muse shows up. Have a good day.

Chris

[Neville]

an intriguing question that only time and the tides will ultimately answer .. clearly an observation of the moment captured and locked in its very own poem :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Neville. Yes some quiet observation on a very wet morning on a recent holiday to Brixham. Strange the thoughts that lead to a poem. Have s lovely day my friend even though I know it’s likely to be a busy one.

Chris

[Richard M]

I love this Chris and have been reading it all day. I love the story and the images that come from your words. There are lots of ideas and feelings in your words.

I love the very descriptive lines;

'have licked cobbled stones clean ....'

' .... spilling from guttering on to pavement people.'

' .... swaying to the tune of grey misty days'

' .... lower walls drowning in salt sea history.'

Thoroughly enjoyed this piece Chris.

Richard

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Richard, thrilled to hear you have read this poem several times. So pleased you enjoyed the read. Many thanks for sharing the parts you especially liked. Lovely to have a visit from you. Take care my friend. All the best.

Chris

[Louisa Chan]

A delicate yet lively description of the tides - nice imageries
I can imagine the scenes
Well done Chris!
L

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Louisa. Pleased you could visualise the scene. A special place for me. All good wishes.

Chris

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Chris,

Thou hast penned a magnificently beautiful and most imagery descriptive piece of Poetry that I did find to be invigorating and inspiring to my humble heart and mind ...

Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn de Graham

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Marvin, your visit and kind comments are very much appreciated. Have a good week-end.

Chris

[Robert Trakofler]

What is it about a collection of water that fascinates me so much if it's a stream, a pond, a lake, a river, or an oceanfront I am endlessly fascinated by them? This reminds me of the thoughts I had when I died in the hospital I could not fathom how I was still there when I was not present anymore I remember having this thought (isn't that strange) I think you read that incubation poem I wrote but one of the lines was just that...
And I, in the absence of;

Savor, sensation,

scent, sight, and sound…

something remained…

Was it my displacement,

of the countless droplets

in the perpetual motion

of the water cycle?

Maybe that's what I was missing in that query perhaps like you just wrote maybe the answer is that water is the closest thing to physical evidence of the past that we experience in life?

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Robert. Your response is so interesting to read. All I know is I have a real affinity to water. Whether river. stream, ocean or rainfall, it’s there. I hope dear friend your recovery is going well and you are getting your strength back. Take care. So pleased to have a visit from you.

Chris

Chris

[Cherrie Palmer]

What a relaxing image I find waiting for the sleepy fishing 🎣 village.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Cherrie. Pleased you stopped by. All the best.

Cherrie.

[Weeping willow]

Just being by the sea and smelling the salt in the air would wonderful. But the smell of fish is another thing, they work so hard to make ends meet. Struggling by the life of the sea is a very hard life. Nicely written Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Weeping willow . A poem written on a recent holiday to Brixham a small fishing town on the west coast of England. It has an amazing history. Weather was very rainy but we had a good restful break. I appreciate your visit and your thoughts. Have a great day.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You bring the rain to life Chris with the monotony of it pelting down on rooftops. drains, roads, pebbles, boats... and the mist...always around until the sun burns it off... you portray the tides in and out and the slimy green moss when it is soaked..... "drowning in sea salt history" is a good description of the scene...
Well done my friend.
Best, B

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Betty. Our holiday was restful but rainy. Always something to look at here and the harbour is a place where there is plenty of activity. Your thoughts are very much appreciated. All the best.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You're welcome Chris; here too in April we get a lot of rain...some sun too like today!!!
Best, B