June Regatta

on the south side of this meadow
where bales of cut hay bake in heat
Hotel California blasts its beat in the
direction of Caryl Anna moored beside
river bank’s comely wild flowers

the memory of earlier dragon boats
linger with their distinct drums thumping
in time to paddle strokes of each sixteen
in each watercraft on a clear mission
to win the annual competition

stall holders entice with their wares
scrumptious food for sale and silk
garlands for women of a certain age
who recall the flowers that adorned
their once long sixties style hair

green grass freshly mown is covered
with young friends out for Saturday fun
the regatta is in full time summer flow
look at the smiling faces of the kids
who know all about saving the planet

taking advantage of the cool waters
drinking themselves a little silly all day
enjoying the blue skies and light breeze
their cans and plastic bottles left behind
forgotten discarded nothing more to say

Reviews

[Neville]

.. it seems that sadly, double standards are all the rage in certain quarters .. but hey, I've never been to a regatta tho' strangely felt very much at home and comfortable here Chris .. and for the record, I've lost count of the times I stayed back after Glastonbury, Reading, Download, WOMAD & the Shrewsbury Folk Festivals to help with the clearing up .. you would be amazed what one finds .. I once asked Michael Eaves what the oddest thing left behind after Glastonbury was .. He said a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow ..
I kid you not ............. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

You would have loved the regatta Neville. Beautiful scenery, by the river, dragon boats, music, food and drink. And happy in abundance. So many happy people. The young ones too happy to remember to look after their litter and far too happy to think about the planet.

That Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. I just shared that with John. We were both gobsmacked. A bit different from a burning tent eh and rubbish.

Thank you for your thoughts. Have a great Saturday in the sunshine.

Chris

[Stuart Munro]

I lived and went to school in Sunningdale Berkshire in England , happy part of my life , I love your poem
It reads an amazing place where you are based, lovely poem , shame about the discarded bottles and cans
Humans like to leave the debris , to show their good times , strange , really , too drunk to tidy up

[Chris Shaw]

Good morning Stuart. Thanks for your encouraging response. Beauty all around, yet some have to dump stuff. I dunno. How are you doing this week?

Chris

[Stuart Munro]

Good sunny morning here , it’s a rare heat wave
Looks like we here to live on a beautiful world and dump , I’m a human waste disposal unit ,

[Chris Shaw]

Hang in there Stuart. I take it you have the after effects of another chemo

[Stuart Munro]

Feeling not too good , I’m still recycling tho, even tho there’s a Trillion plastic bags in the earth
I’ve got my own personal built outside building with every recycling option , every sort of skip and waste bin , you’ve got to do your duty , for mankind , even tho they don’t give a toot for you

[Chris Shaw]

Good to recycle. We do our bit. Hope you feel better as the day progresses. Take care Stuart.

[Vol]

Chris,
Don't all poets, philosophers, and artists, find ourselves looking askance at the folly we see? The strange filter, or lack thereof that is our blessing or curse? We are aware of all the beauty, but the flaws draw us like candles do moths. but not mindless.

[Chris Shaw]

You are so right. The flaws, have a habit of remaining memorable. I curse those people who leave their litter behind for everyone else to clear up. So thoughtless. Many Thanks Vol for your review.

Chris

[Ken e Bujold]

Capture a day's fun so well Chris. Seems your dragon boat races are alot like ours, more pleasurable afternoon than cutthroat competition.

[Chris Shaw]

The dragon boat races were such fun Ken. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great Tuesday.

read moreThe dragon boat races were such fun Ken. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great Tuesday.

Chris

[Ken e Bujold]

have a great one your yourself chris

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you.

[John the Baptist]

Am I focusing oj the wrong thing, or are those young folks bent on saving the planet leaving that beautiful natural setting strewn with plastic? Do as I say, not as I do?

[Chris Shaw]

You are focusing John on what I particularly noticed. Many Thanjs.

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

The atmosphere here is palpable. An atmosphere you find nowhere else in the world. The atmosphere of an English summer. And includes the tidying that must I suppose be done by someone.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Ken. Yes the tidying was done the next day :) A beautiful day was had by all. Happy Tuesday.

Chris

[Gee]

Brings to mind a very lazy, drink fuelled day spent by the river in Bedford, Ouse I think, watching folk messing about on the water, this back in the early 80's.Hope
Last 6 lines had me smiling, drink can make us forget what we, supposedly, hold dear :)))
Hope you are well Christine

[Chris Shaw]

So good yo see you Gee. Hope all is well with you and yours. Thanks for your review. Happy Tuesday.

Chris

[red93]

Ooh Chris u are reminding me of days by the River in Oxford, and Pimms Number 1. A happy and evocative Summer Piece, very atmospheric.

Heavy rain and thunder here in Bristol atm - hopefully it will clear the air.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Tony, it was a beautiful summer day. The air is heavy atm . I think we may have rain. The regatta was at Pangbourne. Oxford is wonderful too:)

[Andrew John]

Great atmosphere created here. I do remember - and did handle - cut bales that had baked in the heat, but merely here in Wales, UK. It was a special summer, that one! I love what you're saying here. And those stalls are tempting.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Andrew. Pleased you enjoyed the read. Happy Tuesday.

Chris

[willweb]

Sounds like a wonderful warm and happy weekend watching the boats race and partaking of everything the day has to offer. What a wonderful excursion your words have taken my mind on today.

[Chris Shaw]

It was wonderful until everyone went home and the rubbish was left dumped everywhere. Why can’t people cjear up their own mess. A little rant but otherwise a perfectly lovely summer day. Thank you will fir your thoughts.

Chris

[willweb]

Well, that'll teach me to get caught up in a poem...I completely missed that part of the story, it eased itself by I guess. Yep, I can understand how that would be annoying. Sorry I missed that.

[Chris Shaw]

No worries will. It came at the end. All the good stuff came first. Apologies for my earlier typos :)