Though Lovely Is Her Memory

Across the lea a north wind blows,

soon follows on soft swirling snow

to cover where the grass grows green.

Into the distance, there alone

and flanked between a wall of stone,

stooped low and twisted leans a tree.

Her branches bend, her branches ache,

caked heavy, burdened they will break

or wait for warmth to set her free?

Throughout the winter, chill and bleak

her ageing limbs are weary, weak,

and shiver in the biting cold.

Long gone those russets, gone the golds,

the rustle of October bolds,

in skirts that danced in autumn breeze.

Alas the verdant green in spring

will not adorn her frame again

nor will her blossom gently fall.

No living thing is built to last

like us this tree was doomed to pass,

though lovely is her memory.

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

Wa7f for. Cv. V Are d C CBC tvthg a C we es C. Hi Chris... I have no clue as to how this Strange Code appeared...
wish I knew! Sorry it took you down a “rabbit hole” like Alice in Wonderland.
Let us hope this does not happen again. Charlie Chan could not solve this Code! Tomorrow is my 🎉 Birthday.. so Life is precious to
me. My daughter will be on a Trip so she is having “flowers” delivered tomorrow morning April 23.. looking forward to receiving them. Stay young and Vibrant. fondly, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Dearest Pat, I am intrigued by your response. I have been pondering for some time. It must be a coded message :) Or maybe a tree whispering in a soft summer breeze. My Dad would have broken the code by now being a wizz at maths and physics. Alas I haven't inherited his scientific brain. Sending love across the waves.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Chris... I adore your description of a soft summer breeze. It must be a secret message from an Angel that knows many mysteries. Be still and listen to your 💜 heart. tenderly, Pat

[KAREN]

I love the imagery and the rhyme. I can.t pick a favorite stanza because they were all written beautifully. Nothing is built to last, but at least we have memories!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Karen for calling on this older poem, out for a breath of fresh air. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[KAREN]

You're welcome!

[Aluppi Jampur]

Very nice, Chris. All things pass, and those special ones leave a lasting mark

[Chris Shaw]

A lovely review from you Chrome. My thanks coming your way.

Chris

[M. J. Smith]

Silver threads among the gold... Even the mighty Thor could not out wrestle Old Age. When gods fail how can mere mortals succeed? And yet, the science of vanity continues to try. Well written, dear lady.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you MJS. Know you are most appreciated.

Chris

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

I find this beautiful and also a little sad! Beautiful at how lovely trees look in Spring and then sad how winter's harshness kills them! Penned perfectly!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Kathy. Yes it was a sad one to write. The demise of trees, always impacts on me. They are like old friends.

Chris

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Always a pleasure!

[Einstein Noodle]

dear Chris ..i have tears welling up in my eyes and lump in my throat ..so thankful to read this wonderful poem of our humanity .. thought instantly of my Norma and my dear Ma ... then enough others to fill the basket. beautifully, sensitively, masterfully done says i .. rhyme and rhythm so natural .. and i admire the use of punctuation in such a sensible way ... i did pay attention to them ;)
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Aw, dear Mr E. I am so touched by your lovely review. Especially as it made you think of your Norma and your Ma. So pleased you liked this poem.

Chris

[lightsong]

So very touching, so gently sad... but yes dearest Chris our beauty and loveliness stay byoned our passing years and age, it will live on no matter what, maybe the shape is changed but never the essence.

[Chris Shaw]

What a lovely thought about the essence. I very much hope so too lightsong. So pleased you visited this old poem of mine, out for an airing.

Chris

[Unspoken poet]

This is so lovely and yet touching. Very nicely expressed feelings

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for checking in and leaving a review. So much appreciated.

Chris

[Miss Sharon]

Beautifully written! I love the two rhyming lines followed by a non-rhyming one. Is this a particular poetry form? The message of the poem is lovely as well. A joy to read. ~Sharon

[Chris Shaw]

I'm not aware that it is a poetry firm Sharon. The lines just came out that way. Pleased you liked the poem.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Chris... this would be me... in my Autumn Skirt.
It seems I no longer dance in the Wind... but I sing with the Birds.
A beautiful Poem that touches my Heart. tenderly, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Singing with the birds sounds good to me Pat. Thank you for checking this old write out. Wanted to give it an airing. All the best from across the waves.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Chris… a favorite ❤️ Poem of yours that I would love to Remember. Soon our Balsam Firs will be covered with Snow. We have had a Visitor for a Week or so.. a Red-headed Woodpecker that is eating Seeds with our Cardinals and Blue Jays. You never know the “Pecking Order” until a Winter Day in December. Merry Christmas 😇 2022. “I saw three Ships a Sailing” is a pretty 🎶 Song. Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Pat. Love hearing about the behavior of your avian friends. It has been too cold here to snow. Enjoy yours when it arrives. So pretty to look at.

Chris