Without Witness

for the here and now
a clutch of eggs remain safe
while marina lake rises
after recent downpours
of april rain

not straying further
than a meter away from
their soon to be cygnets
cosy near the waters creep
swans work with diligence

beaks pull at random
rushes and dried grasses
or any useful loose vegetation
to strengthen the build
of their fortress nest

swan eyes aware of mallards
close by and I wonder whether
they bore witness to what no one saw
until the sun rose after
friday night’s sleep

there by a pontoon finger
a woman’s coat and handbag
found where she slipped
swallowed into the dark deep
underworld

unnoticed

Reviews

[willweb]

Whoa!!! It is almost like the music changed right there at the end. We start with some soft flute and violins playing peaceful serenity as the mind pans the water watching nature float gently through the day and then....BAM!!! The cymbals crash and the electric bass starts thumping as we see what was left behind. That was way cool my friend.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you will. Sadly the music did change. From beautiful and tranquil into a tragedy. Happy Easter to you my friend.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

a very surprising ending Chris...it seems only the ducks/ mallards really saw what happened until the reader finds out at the very end....your introduction was a teaser of sorts which built to a rather gruesome conclusion...yet your words were beautifully chosen.. for this natural scene of lovely swans wading and playing house in their natural habitat.... Well done
Best, B

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Betty. The beautiful marina lake gives and takes. Fortunately she gives far more than she takes but tragic accidents do happen. Always good to have your thoughts my friend.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

My pleasure dear Chris, always love your poems!
Hope you had a pleasant Easter!
Best, B.

[Chris Shaw]

Lovely family Easter Betty. Hope yours has been good too. We have also been blessed with fine sunny weather so have been able to make the most of our garden.

[FGFRANKLIN]

Wow, I was not expecting that ending. It had a definite twist in the ending like an O. Henry short story. Here, I was, getting all into the tale of the swans and watching the wildlife and OH! Although I'm a sucker for a happy ending, life doesn't always turn out that way and art tends to imitate life. I enjoyed the read. Well done. F.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Fabian.The lovely marina lake gives but she also has the capacity to take. On this occasion it appears to be an accident. All the best.

Chris

[Mauricio Montoya]

Chris you must have a bag of words, love the first stanza makes me think of Easter or even spring you bring this write in a form of art a visual image of design. Thank you for sharing

[Chris Shaw]

Many Thanks Maurício. Always good to have a visit from you. Have a great day.

Chris

[Mauricio Montoya]

Hi sorry I had to read again, I've been away awhile but it's good to be back, love your thoughts and work and will be reading ❤️

[Chris Shaw]

Welcome back my friend.

[AYVID N]

Dear Chris,

A poem that has such a moving, shocking end. Yes, perhaps the swans saw her go down and wondered about her as she consigned herself to her dark, deep, watery grave. Your words are as always gripping as you build up the expectation of the reader, the story as if flowers upon the page to eventually reveal an intriguing, dark core.

Fantastic job done!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

oh geez, you know where I went with this one...
so alone, swallowed...
a young life cut short...even if the swans stand guard on their unborn...
some humans let their guard down...
and that is it.
j.

[Lorry]

This has a ring of the familiar to it Chris, of a story that was never off the news or newspapers, now suddenly forgotten amid more of that flippin breaking news.
Oh how we devoured that story, added and embellished opinion and gossip, despite it being a real actual person we were gossiping about, with a real life family that had no choice but to live in the drama we all made out of a tragedy.
If only we could talk quack, eh?
I'm sure all they would have to say to us, or most of us at least is "silly humans!"