The Back of Beyond

silhouettes of tall conifers
in the distant dark
stand in quiet silence
like an army of sentries
on night time duty

guarding the gardens
of houses built by Edwardians
to last into the twenty first
century or beyond
where red brick is sound
where it is safe and
where it speaks of solid
craftsmanship

silver moon has seen it all
from when the first foundations
were laid to when walls grew
tall to roof level topped by
slates of doldrum grey
where bay windows opened
on to lonely dust tracks

where now the street lamps
gleam an amber glow
on cars parked
where once the odd horse
and cart would pass by
from nearby farms

Reviews

[Neville]

You just walked with me along the Crescent .. I dont mean the one in Bath although that would have been lovely, I mean Delapre Crescent Road where I spent much time as a youngster with my parents and younger siblings .. a nice trip down a well trod path .. thanks for that our Chris .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Happy to have accompanied you along Delapre Crescent Road. What a beautiful name.I had my roller skates on:) Pleased you enjoyed some nostalgia today. Happy Friday my friend and a big thank you for knocking on my front door:)

Chris

[Neville]

you are indeed more than welcome as I am pleasured :)

[Chris Shaw]

Good afternoon Neville :)

[Lorry]

If those trees could talk, eh... it would probably freak you out at first, but then you'd realise they'd been whispering for years and you blamed it on the wind!
But they'd be impressed with your words if they could also read too, if they could get over the fact the pages were pulped ancestors.
On second thoughts, best shoe them your kindle instead! 😃

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks for the smile Lorry. Everything about my road is old. Victorian and Edwardian homes and very old trees that whisper. I reckon there are plenty of ghosts round here. Fortunately, none visit me. Have a great Sunday.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

you have a way of painting a picture with words. i see a very dark canvas, an eerie image of a house with a long history. there is no home without ghosts, but some have more than others. and such houses have a way of leaving an impression on on-lookers. reading this piece, it seems like this place is one such example.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ern. We live in a road which has many Victorian and Edwardian homes. No new builds here. I am sure you are right. There must be many ghosts that linger. Luckily none visit me in my home. Thanks again for the read and a much valued review. I appreciate your visit.

[D. Mansfield]

Just what I've come to expect from you, brilliant poetry

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Danny. I appreciate your visit.

[Thomas W Case]

I love how you take the reader into the scene and covey such emotion—tremendous work.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts Thomas. Very much appreciated.

[Tom]

People, generations long since past, nowadays modern times, modern living so much alien to former Victirian days, yet like the moon above and those tall conifer trees, they've seen so much comeings & goings and dare I say, will still be around when present day indivuals won't be, yep, as Dillon once sang, " these times are a changing"

Beautiful timeless poem dear Chris, much enjoyed!

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Tom, so pleased you enjoyed this poem. Thank you so much for stopping by with your valued thoughts. All good wishes.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

History is certainly all around us and nature is not without reminders. These mountains I live in are the oldest on the face of the earth, while on our most distant shore grow living Bristlecone Pines that are older than the great pyramids of Giza. Imagine if they could talk. I enjoyed the read.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Fabian for your interesting share. Pleased you stopped by today.

[Sami Khalil]

You are an architect of words and imagery Chris Shaw of Timeless Britain.

[Chris Shaw]

You are spoiling me:) Another thank you.

[Sami Khalil]

Hehehe
You are welcome.

[Sami Khalil]

I love old, classic architecture. The old ways of street lamps, horses and buggies were magical and natural.
I read recently where London wants to build 100 more skyscrapers to be another Manhattan. Arrgh!
I like classic architecture along with different and unique ones like Zaha Hadid( the queen of the curve).
Poem is superb.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Sami for such an encouraging review. Pleased you stopped by today.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome Chris Shaw.

[Colleen]

Thank you, for sharing this was absolutely lovely! I can picture the scene in my mind. I love how you give nature and inanimate objects human characteristics here.
I gave you 98 only because I would like to hear more.
Colleen

[Chris Shaw]

What a lovely review Colleen. Pleased to meet you and thank you for stopping by.

Chris