The Summer of ‘49

(teenage kids)

a claustrophobic journey in
a packed coach of day trippers

find sweethearts posed for a
snapshot moment on Southend pier

the heat of a burnished summer sun
not lost in Kodak monochrome

he with his sweater over a shoulder
casual in white open collared cotton

she with away day hair tousled and fair
a radiant smile focused on his eyes

she has found her ever after with a
penniless uni student of physics

he has found his soul mate and a mother
to a future brood of contentment

theirs was a match made in the stars
foundations of a home built to last

Reviews

[FGFRANKLIN]

Heavenly shades of romance and young love when the heart is alive in every nerve and the mind is seduced by youth. You can feel the nostalgia like a scalloped edged black and white photograph and the almost warm breeze from that summer's day. What a wonderful trip into the past.

[Chris Shaw]

Your review is a gift Fabian. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Stuart Munro]

Did I know then I was only a year old , but this poem on I’m sold , it’s such a piece of poetic gold

[Chris Shaw]

Stuart thank you so much for your beautiful review. Hope the week is progressing well for you. All the best.

Chris

[Stuart Munro]

Hi Chris , thanks , I’m feeling rough for the last two days , but tonight I feel better , have a Great Weekend

[Devansh Shekhar Shukla]

This is a very lovely and expressive poem. I felt like I was watching a movie.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for stopping by Devansh. Your thoughts greatly appreciated.

Chris

[Minnesota Fats]

Great imagery here. Wonderful piece.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for your kind review. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Ah ah ha
The theory of everything was the movie

[Chris Shaw]

Aw, bless you for returning with the title. So appreciated Julie.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

This is wonderful
I immediately thought of the movie I saw a few years ago but for the life of me can’t recall it
It’ll come
Lol
Loved this poem

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Julie. Pleased you enjoyed.

Chris

[emmajoygreen]

Old photographs and perhaps, snippets of knowledge have created a truly beautiful yet touching poem, Chris. Each couplet has added a dimension, intentionally maybe, to a glorious ending! That year was meant to be a precious memory. mUnable to select a quote or two because the entire poem is... special.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Em. Just holding a photograph in your hands for a few quiet moments can certainly jog the memory. This was one I hadn’t seen before, found in my mum’s personal effects. They were so young, there was a youthful innocence about the whole thing. Plus the way my mum was looking at my dad. There were stars in her eyes :)) They had a wonderful partnership. Many thanks for leaving such a kind review. Have a great Bank holiday.

Chris

[emmajoygreen]

I know how it is with precious photographs and admit to shedding tears at time seeing things that you've mentioned in your wonderful response. May I ask how long your parents were married?

[Chris Shaw]

Forty years until my Dad died at 60. Far too soon :(

[emmajoygreen]

Oh yes, so very sad. But a long time compared with many of today's marriages. Our daddy died two years after Hannah. :( But must smile at thoughts of he and little mum.. they were true lovers. Your poem has stirred so many memores, than you, dear friend.

[Nima.Hope]

What a lovely and breath taking trip through the time, summer of 1949. Those days were special, as they will never return, in dressing style,in cars colors and many other things. I can imagine your lovely parents falling in love in those days, classic British romance. Among all the nation's in the world,I see the loveliest romances among British people. As a an evidence, Jane Austen's novels shows it perfectly.
I wish you and your family the sweetest moments in life, dearest Chris.
Love and appreciation❤️❤️
Nima

[Chris Shaw]

Your beautiful review warms me Nima. So you have read Jane Austen. A wonderful writer. Thank you for your kindness. Sending my very best wishes to you always dear poet. Have a lovely day.

Chris

[Nima.Hope]

I started reading novels when my English teacher gave me Oliver Twist and Treasure Island books. From that time, I was so interested in Dickens's books that I bought David Copperfield, The Tale of Two cities, Christmas Carol, Blake House, Nicholas Nickelby and Hard Times. After Dickens, I started Jane Austen's novels and there are my favorite books. I used to stay until 1 am to finish these books. I'm A British Iranian after all 😊
Have a wonderful day dear Chris❤️

[Chris Shaw]

You are well versed in the classics Nima. You have read some of the very best literature this country has produced. That makes me smile :)

[Nima.Hope]

I like the fashion style of 19th century in England. They used to have unique beard or thick side hair, it was really cool with those suits. I wish one day Christopher Nolan make the movie of "Tale of two cities", it's really his style.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

The youth of this expanding into a union of two, blooming into a family of more is really beautiful. There's an innocence to this that is maintained throughout. It sounds like they were destined to be.

[Chris Shaw]

I think they were destined to be. I think you have summed their relationship up perfectly Linda. Thank you for your thoughtful review and stopping by.

Chris

[Ken e Bujold]

beautiful poem Chris, with the last 3 stanzas being inspirational. Don't know why exactly, but whenever I think of my parents generation, i am always envious and amazed at how they made their youthful choices stick. Maybe it had something to do with coming out of war, hard times making for more realistic decisions, or perhaps just something in the water ... Either way those last 3 V very much remind me of conversations with them about their early days of marriage

loved the poem
Ken

[Chris Shaw]

I think you are right about the war years. It influenced people a great deal. Made them stick together through adversity. Many thanks Jen for stopping by.

Chris