Like River Grass

behold tall bold river grass
as it sways in a westerly
morning breakfast breeze

moving with overhead cloud
before its flexible backbone
returns to o’clock

while biscuit coloured foxtail
plumes brush the cool dry air
in feather duster tickles

as the whole cycle
repeats like a stuck stylus and
i recall our own species

how we can bend with
wind change to bounce back
after a battering

while some sadly break
to become crushed by
all that’s belligerent

not all are resilient
not all can go with the flow
for even in a lakeside show

casualties of cruelty
inflicted by fickle ways of nature
lie bruised and broken

Reviews

[Robert Trakofler]

LOL I got a crook in my neck and my legs aren't what they used to be my arms can't reach nearly as high and strong as they used to:( I'm trying to get back upright but you'll forgive me if I can't stand as proud as I once was my dear Chris:) but my heart and my spirit still stand 10 feet high and wrestle with all the nettles along the shoreline:) Lovely lovely lovely lines

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Robert, your review warms me. Thank you so much for your kindness. Take good care of yourself.

[Steel Magnolia]

Wonderful imagery -the parallel between nature and humanity , so well done.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Steel Magnolia. Your thoughts are kindly received and appreciated.

[Shawn Jahaffie]

You've hit a bunch of killer lines in this poem, Chris. Some real fire here. Reminds me a bit of one of my favorite poems, Thistles, by Ted Hughes (https://allpoetry.com/Thistles). I really liked "biscuit coloured foxtail plumes", "feather duster tickles", and "breakfast breeze". I liked how, yes, men, like those long grasses, are resilient and and resolute, but hey, getting stepped on is getting stepped on, and sometimes there's not a whole lot we can do about that. Another interesting sneaky nuance meaning that jumped out to me was in the part about us bending with the wind, changing to bounce back after a battering, and that it reminded me of how cultural pressure can both literally break us, or bolster us/stand us back up, depending on our orientation/stance in the midst of that pressure. Can we divert it, can we harness it? Or will it destroy us?

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Jon. Really appreciate this thorough review from you and for pointing out the lines you enjoyed most. I will have to check that Ted Hughes poem out. Not one known to me. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. I get much pleasure from observing the natural environment and in doing so can see similarities with our own species. I am delighted at the interest you have shown in my poetry. Big thanks to you.

[Shawn Jahaffie]

Well the pleasure is all mine, it's fun to read, and to get back into the swing of things, writing-wise, it's been a while for me since I felt like writing. Thanks for the help!

[Chris Shaw]

I hope you get round to posting some new work soon Jon.

[Dave Brown]

i earlier read a remark wondering if you knew how good your work had become
this is another example that confirms that remark
very nicely done

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Dave for your very encouraging comments. Pleased you enjoyed the read. Have a good Sunday.

[andrew mitchell]

Only the strong survive and like river grass bends to change and conflict- goes with the flow so to speak comes to mind.

[Chris Shaw]

Going with the flow. Flexibility, being able to adjust to unseen circumstances helps in survival. Thank you Andrew. Interesting to watch river grass. So like our own species.

[duff]

The opening line gave me goosebumps. Cerebral lines.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you duff. Pleased you stopped by. Hope all is good in your world. Enjoy the rest of your day.

[John the Baptist]

I have noticed how certain trees, like the mighty oaks, are uprooted by hurricane winds, while the slender saplings bend mightily with the wind, but go with it and then snap back afterward. I think a similar principle is the subject of this poem. The main point is that the trees also represent human behavior. Those of us who are rigid and unyielding are the ones who are broken by life's misfortunes, while the more flexible live to fight another day.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much John. How right you are. I appreciate your thoughtful review. Have a good Saturday.

[Soren]

Chris this was not only beautiful but can be taken at different level. I thought that you might be talking about people not just foxtail plumes. Very nicely done

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Soren. There is much in people that resembles nature. I appreciate you stopping by.

[Shelley Warner]

That's beautiful, I can see the river grass undulating in the breeze. Love all the descriptive words and phrases, like: "returning to o'clock". And love the life application.

[Chris Shaw]

Your reviews are always appreciated Shelley. Thank you so much.

[red93]

Very interesting and moving Work Chris. Yr Poem made me think of the Nicola Bulley investigation ongoing in the UK atm. We supposedly live in the most civilised Country in the World, yet a normal healthy Woman can still disappear without trace.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks so much Tony and good morning.Yes, the whole matter of Nicola is more than weird to say the least and ongoing ….Have a good day.