Wind Chime Tree

this hilltop climb
steeper than expected
slower walking an aging
canine

breathless
with each step taken
that grassy plateau nearer
dusted in overnight frosting
white winter bites hard
swallows on the tongue

sadness of four years passing
lingers on a pathway paused
to listen to the tinkle
of wind chimes carried
carried on a breeze of
swift sweeping

sweeping across our valley
weeping in remembrance of
a young vibrant life
last breath lost to youths
to a steel blade ambush
hotheads of stupidity

Olly Stevens RIP - age 13 🌹

Reviews

[Katrina Mckeown]

A very moving poem well penned... I think you wrote me on the time of this happening to 13yr old Oily Stevens..such heartache for all who witnessed and knew Olly may dear Ollys memory live on .

[Chris Shaw]

You remembered him Katrina. Yes I wrote about it when it happened. An area of outstanding beauty. I have only been back there once, since that happened. It impacted our community badly. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. Have a happy Wednesday.

Chris

[Poetic Beauty]

This world is in chaos and and brings much unwarranted tragedy and trauma. A life gone too soon and often it is a senseless reason.

The wind in this poem sets the melancholy tone for this piece and is a somber accent to the horrific event that took place.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you PB, I appreciate your visit and your thoughts. Hard to understand sometimes these awful events. Children killing children is even worse. Have a good Wednesday.

Chris

[Poetic Beauty]

There are so many things that baffle my mere mortal brain. The how and the whys.

[D. Mansfield]

You've been thinking of the lost children it in these poems. Very nice, it's a hard thing that sometimes shakes our faith to its foundation. All part of his plan for us

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Danny. I have indeed been thinking of the tragedy of losing children. The hardest pain of all to deal with. If you have a strong faith, perhaps that helps, but I’m afraid I lost mine some time ago. I appreciate your visits and will call on you soon.

Chris

[redd Brick Keshner]

A(n almost) melancholic reverie… a wistful mood while walking… very relatable! 🙏🏻🕊

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Freds. Yes melancholic, the site where a young life was taken. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Chris

[redd Brick Keshner]

Indeed, some places are quite sacred and hallow. You’re welcome, Chris 🙏🏻🕊

[Michael Sun Bear]

This is a nice piece Chris, As I read more and more of your poetry I find I enjoy all your writing. I must share with you, yesterday afternoon I explained the website to a friend who does not write, and I opened for her to read some of my favorite poems. After a few minutes she asked, doesn’t anyone write about happiness? Well that threw me. We do tend to be a morbid lot. Some of your poetry holds bittersweet nostalgia, and forgive me I am early in exploring your body of work, some of your poems were the closest I could find to writing about “happiness” Not this obviously, but I just had to tell you about her question. Maybe I just don’t read “happy.”

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Michael, it does seem to be that it is easier to write sad than happy. I mentioned it to Jacob the other day. Neither of us has an answer. Many of my poems are neutral, some sad and you might on rare occasions find a really happy one:) Anyway, I am so appreciative of you calling by to comment on my efforts. I hope you have had a good Sunday and a big thank you is on the way.

Chris

[Writergurl]

Such a sad write, yet touches the heart,
well expressed

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you writergurl. It is a sad subject but a reminder as to how cruel life can be and how short for some. I appreciate you.

Chris

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Poetry of this kind remind us that life is a journey no one can predict sometimes, especially when it comes to when one have to leave forever without being able to say goodbye. It happens regardless of age and most of the time left everyone shocked and befuddled.

Hopefully you are doing great Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Kay, lovely to have a visit from you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am doing well thank you and very much hope the same for you. Best regards.

Chris

[Gee]

Seems to be the way of the world now, playground disputes settled with cold steel.
I think I remember you writing about this a while back, or another similar incident.

Beautiful words, extremely sad.
Good morning Christine, hope you are well.
Another storm on the way so staple on your wig and make sure your skirt is tucked into your wellies:))

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Gee, you have an excellent memory young man. Yes, I first wrote about Olly four years ago. I don’t go back to that beauty spot often, but took my dog there for a walk recently. It’s difficult. All ok here, hope the same for you. Yes baton down the hatches, here we go again. Lovely to get a visit from you. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Gee]

On site at 63 I'm the old man :))

[Chris Shaw]

Younger than me :))

[Gee]

I do not hear that many times. In my head, like most men, I'm still 12 years old. Drives my wife mad.... " when are you going to grow up"........NEVER :)

[John the Baptist]

A lovely rural setting gives way at the end to the memory of a tragedy. In a way, it is a metaphor for life itself. Beauty and blood.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John. A tragedy indeed. We have expanding knife crime over here, particularly with youngsters. Such a sad state of affairs.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

With us, it's guns. What has gotten into people?

[jacob erin-cilberto]

This is so touching and heart wrenching, Chris.
Beautiful write.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear j. Your kind words appreciated.

Chris