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

[Betty Hermelee]

What splendid memories from yesteryear....I can smell the rainwater, the lavender, the shampoo and all the vivid images you paint in this scene....and oh the garden and the jug to collect water to nourish it.. ...in my old days we would use peroxide to tint our hair, I'm going way back...nature is always the best way... lovely Chris
Warmly, B

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Betty for your continued support of my efforts. You are appreciated.

read moreThank you so much Betty for your continued support of my efforts. You are appreciated.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re always welcome Chris… have a happy Sunday
Take care
Warmly
B.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yeah maybe...but your words these days are strands of silken gold.
You poem raises an interesting question...why has she stopped tending her garden.
Has she quit taking care of herself as well...has she given up on planting new seeds in her life?
Excellent write, Chris.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

You raise very good points about the lady with no name. She deserves the attention. As a teenager she fascinated me. A widow, she needed money so she rented her house out in summer, she was also too frail to garden herself. Thank you my friend.

[Poetic Beauty]

The last stanza makes me smile. Sounds like some kind of old wife’s tale or home remedy that doesn’t work but the garden sounds beautiful before it became over grown. Love the details woven in this poem.

[Chris Shaw]

It is an old wives tale and it might have worked, if the rainwater had been filtered first. Got showered in dead insects lol. Thank you PB for checking in.

Chris

[Poetic Beauty]

Eww gross dead insects, shivers. I’ve hear rain water is good for your hair because of the minerals in it. Haven’t tried it but after this I’d make sure there were no bugs for sure

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, I would now:) As a 13 year old, that question didn’t come to mind at first lol.

[Poetic Beauty]

I mean had I not read this I’m not sure I would have thought of dead insects in the water either; even as an adult that I am.

[Chris Shaw]

I have a water butt in my garden myself. It is full after a week of heavy rain. Not sure I would want to try it these days. Conditioner does the trick:)

[Poetic Beauty]

I in addition to my shampoo and conditioner make Rosemary water for my hair

[Davidgeo]

Have you ever heard of an early 80's animated movie called The Last Unicorn? It's fantastic. This poem reminded me of what happens to unicorns when you take them out of unicorn land and make them live among the filthy disgusting humans.

[Chris Shaw]

I haven’t seen it, but I googled to find out more. There is a gentleness to my early teens and an innocence which in these days is lost forever. Not everything can be classified as progress with the passing of time. Thank you so much for your review. Have a great weekend. I am going to purchase the film or see if it’s on Netflix.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

I think it's free to watch on Amazon's streaming service. It's a strange movie, they definitely do not make animated movies like that anymore. I think you'll enjoy it.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Chris… Rain water has reflections of Summers spent with Marigolds and older folks in Gardens where memories were planted… now that I am older … I Cherish the showers that encourage Spring buds and bulbs to Bloom. April is a wake-up to May and June… Lilly of the Valley and Heather on the Hill. Your Poetry inspires me when my Muse is away for days. gently, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Pat, thank you for bringing some spring and summer into this window box. Lily of the valley always reminds me of one of my grandmas. Wonderfully fragrant. Love to you both 🌹

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Chris… I appreciate your poetry… the Sun is peeking through today after days of Misty Rain… our World needs Prayer and blessings. softly with 💗 Love… Pat

[Neville]

A real poetic treat .. for a moment, I thought we may have been almost neighbours looking into Mrs Grace Pratt .. or Miss Esme G Cameron's most amazingly & beautifully neglected garden .. (it was actually wild) I think probably some of the best and most memorable moments of my life were spent there .. thanks for jogging my box of recollections Chris I owe ya .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Aw, thanks Neville. Pleased I sent you on a happy nostalgia trip. I love overgrown floral gardens. They can be magical. You have spoken about Mrs Grace Pratt before. I think she smoked cigars from my memory. Quite a character you lived next door to. The lady here rented her home out to us in the summer. She was in a chalet in the garden. Always keeping an eye over us kids:)

Chris

[Neville]

.............. no only my pleasure, but you are write on all counts our Chris ... Neville

[Mauricio Montoya]

Wow Chris you got me I was looking to read so title gets my attention I pick and began to read, the Bee's and summer heat yes this is me at 13, as kid there always some old Lady weather she loves or hate in general, a Southern Bellie with her looks blinds your eyes for a beauty so bright, thank you Chris for sharing words that took me away for awhile. Lol Thank you.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mauricio, pleased that my little nostalgia trip sent you on one of your own. It’s nice to drift back in time. Have lovely day poet friend.

Chris

[Annika]

Ahh, easy breezy carefree summer...

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Annika. It was a carefree summer. A little nostalgia trip here. Have a good Thursday.
read moreThank you Annika. It was a carefree summer. A little nostalgia trip here. Have a good Thursday.

Chris

[Sami Khalil]

Sweet gullibility in a lovely, funny outcome; trusting the elderly is so important albeit vaiive in some ways. Time passing, the writer does pass on a good story with a message.

[Chris Shaw]

Oh yes, I was a bit naive at 13. Remember the insects well. Thank you dear Sami for stopping by. Have a happy Thursday.

Chris

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome Chris.

[Writergurl]

I adored this write, I loved those last two stanza's.
love you imagery you write with. Nicely written through out.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello my young friend. So pleased you enjoyed this piece of nostalgia. Good to see you again. Happy Thursday.

Chris .