Slipway

(Observations)

here
where little egrets wade by day
where plovers peck at weed
and gulls parade on cobbled stones
wetted by tide’s glisten

swans gracefully glide
as black water rises
to a gentle lap lap lap

town clock strikes twelve
midnight sleeps
echoes carried on time passing
amber street lamps flicker

old man pauses
hands clutching stale bread
pieces torn and thrown
bit by bit
reach salt water surface

watch the commotion
hear the noise of gull chicks
screeching greedy
ear shattering cacophony
a free for all din
in a mass of wing flap
hovering

see white feathers ruffled
angry
to converge within seconds
for late night bother
all manners lost in the
feasting

survival mentality
how very human

Reviews

[Tumi]

I can feel the vivid imagery in these splendid please
Almost moving therein

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for leaving a review Tumi. Pleased you liked my poem.

[Vol]

Chris,
I can smell the beach, feel the sand, see every bird, and hear the cacophony of "echoes carried on time passing.' A sweet kind of sensual peek into what we call the "salt life," I'll never forget that time, their survival mentality stole our entire pic-nic while we strolled away...
Vol

[Chris Shaw]

The seagulls can be a menace. They are so bold. Clean took an ice cream cornet right out my granddaughter’s hand when she was three. Many twangs Vol for leaving your thoughts.

[MsJewel]

I love the way you have blended natures rhythms with human like behavior. The imagery is lovely, especially the swans gliding, the tides gentle lap. Truely beautiful writing. :) Julie

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Julie for stopping by. I very much appreciate your kind review. All good wishes.

[Neville]

Sounds like my kind of meander Chris .. I love observing too .. No not that kind Loz just in case ya nosing .. a real treat for the senses on a dark n chilly November eve .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Neville. That’s Brixham harbour for you. A great source of inspiration for me when I am looking down on the town from the tiered heights of the cottage where we stay. Pleased you enjoyed . Wrap up warm. We have had sleet today. Really cold.

[Neville]

My pleasure Chris .. feels like mid winter here too. 🐧

[red93]

Love this Chris, so vivid and rich in description - and then a nice sardonic twist in the ending. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Tony. Trying to get back to writing. It’s been a while. Pleased you enjoyed this one.

[Patricia Wedel]

Amber street lights flicker and egrets gather... people strolling by... a peaceful evening.... for a lullabye... I sigh and smile... Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Pat. It had been a very peaceful evening until the bread was thrown into the harbour basin. I took inspiration here from my holiday six weeks ago in Brixham which is a small fishing town on the west coast. It is such a beautiful place. A sanctuary for me. Many thanks for your visit. Have a beautiful day.

[Lorry]

Where I used to live, Clydebank near Glasgow, there is a fish n chip restaurant and takeaway that in the long ago became the world's first fish n chip restaurant and chippy that's setting is an actual boat!
That boat doesn't sail anywhere, as it is now concreted in to the side of the canal, but that boat also built a slipway, which is fenced off from us pesky humans, for the sole purpose of swans and ducks to bring their young and enjoy a safe place to rest and get fed through the holes in the fence, by eager kids and adults alike.
Personally, I'm glad the fence is there, because I've heard tell that swans especially being with their young, can be right moody sods and make a right racket while chasing pesky humans away!
That concludes our weird places the Scots put chippies lesson for today! 😃

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks for that share Lorry. I love that you can get your fish and chips from a boat. How novel. You are right about swans. They can be viscious if they feel their cygnets are threatened. The scenario I wrote about is Brixham Harbour.. We go there two or three times a year. It has become a sort of refuge. I witnessed the cacophony from a balcony looking down. I like observing the harbour basin. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.

[Marie]

I love the many beautiful pictures you paint for your reader within this amazing poem and I also love how you narrate the story of the birds and the old man feeding them, bless him. Late at night, the town clock strikes midnight and the noise which the baby gulls are making is enough to wake up the whole town as come to feast. Yes, we have much in common with the seagulls when it comes to surviving, Chris and when I go out each morning to feed both the crows and the seagulls, the noise is absolutely deafening as they literally fight for the food, though there's lots there, they are very protective of their lot. I adore this lovely story, Chris and the pictures you so deftly paint through excellent word choice throughout the poem. Kudos on this masterful write which I so enjoyed and thank you for sharing too...

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Marie, I thank you for your very comprehensive review. I wrote this about Brixham Harbour where I go for holidays. It’s a special place for me. Your review is very much appreciated. Have a lovely day.

[Marie]

Dear Chris, thank you so very much for telling me about Brixham Harbour. It sounds like a little piece of heaven and I can understand how special it is. It sounds very beautiful.
Most welcome always, Chris.
I wish you a very relaxed, peaceful and pleasant evening to enjoy...

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Love the mood and setting of the piece as well as the picturesque prose that captures each scene, well done and very much enjoyed.

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased you stopped by Fabian and even more so that you enjoyed this piece so much. Observations of Brixham harbour in the west country, where we go for holidays. Thank you my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

The animal kingdom is so like the human kingdom...
and it can be quite peaceful at times...both can be.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

You are so right j. When I first started to observe this scenario, there was perfect integration. All was peaceful, until the bread was thrown. In seconds the peace was shattered. Thank you so much for stopping by. I appreciate you.