Impressions

no sunlight only dead insects

in the bee buzzing summer heat
of my thirteenth year of living
lavender spikes surrounded
an old water butt
neglected by time passing

propped up by broken bricks
within a walled garden
of a lady with no name
her blemish free skin
never exposed to sun

and whose eager eyes were
ever watchful
over a garden overgrown
where floral scents wafted in
through net curtains breezy

intoxicating so heady
from flower beds once tended
i borrowed a cracked ceramic jug
striped kitchen blue and white
to collect rainwater

to rinse the soapy shampoo
from my shoulder length hair
it will bring out the sunlight
in strands of silken gold she said
and foolishly I believed her

Reviews

[Lore Keeper]

It wasn’t sadness that came over me but the remembrance of the carefree summers of youth mixing with the twilight years of a woman who would love to continue tending her garden. Despite her inability to continue doing what she loved she is satisfied with the scents of her garden recalling fond memories, and creating new ones for the next generation.

Well done Chris

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for stopping by with such a thoughtful review Lore Keeper. Have a happy weekend.

Chris

[June bug]

I can feel some sadness going on in this well expressed write.
Nicely written Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you June bug for stopping by. Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Chris

[June bug]

you too! I'll be looking forward for some new writes from you when you post them. Take care

[Lydia Shutter]

There is a sadness here. Gardens once tended and perfect still smelling as sweet, but overrun with weeds. Still, the woman who once tended to the garden is happy with the aroma of the flowers. A cracked jug to hold rainwater....seems that would not hold enough water to wash out the shampoo from long hair. Still, the imagery was rich. I liked the way you described her skin! Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Hello dear Lydi**. Thank you so much for stopping by. The old lady was a bit of a recluse. Yes, a sadness about the way she lived. Hope all is good with you.

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

I prefer these gardens to manicured ones. And I actually prefer this type of poetry. Remarkably visual.

[Chris Shaw]

What a lovely review Ken. Many thanks for stopping by. Have a good week.

Chris

[andrew mitchell]

Neglected gardens, a cracked ceramic jug, a lady that is blemish free sounds like a reclusive woman. Funny Greta Garbo came to mind.

[Chris Shaw]

I like that you thought of Greta. She was a recluse too. I want to be alone. I think that is what she said. Thank you Andrew for stopping by.

Chris

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous use of language. Powerful work, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Thomas. I appreciate your thoughts.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

I love this, Chris ... the closing is poignant and moving for me. your poem leaves a lot of open doors and windows to fill in the questions raised in reading .. i feel the melancholy of youth to aging in your two characters .. such a sad realization that dreams do not always come true .. our youth escapes us in whispers ... but as for the rain water's power to gift sunlight in your hair .... like Dorothy i say "I do believe, I do believe" ;))))))))))))))))))))))))))) wonderful emotive and imaged poetry
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mr E, delighted that my poem about youth and old age opened so many doors for you. I love the thoughts that you have shared here. I do hope life is being kind to you. Many, many thanks for stopping by.

Chris

[hiren]

hi chris,
how are you doing

-jessy

[Chris Shaw]

I’m ok Jessy thanks.. I hope you enjoyed reading my poem.

[hiren]

i am fine Chris.

[John the Baptist]

Sounds as though the lady had seen better days. A shut-in, letting all around her go downhill. Might have been dementia. In the days before much was known about the disease, people didn't pay much attention to the signs of it.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John for what you saw here. She was a sweet old lady who had been widowed many years. Quite reclusive and from what I recall, a little eccentric. I appreciate you.

Chris

[Anita Frader]

A lovely nostalgic write. There was also a remedy or treatment that was all natural or home made. Really enjoyed this memory from your early years.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Anita for stopping by. Most kind. Happy Sunday.

Chris