Remains

several weeks have passed
since my soles last walked on moss clad
paths of this old graveyard
littered with pine cones
fallen from neck stretching conifers
yet so strangely alive with
silent ghosts of the once
living

grass grows shoulder high
hides broken headstones
with bleached sun dried presence
oppressive in july heat
smoulders in late afternoon

the inevitable creeping
of nature
as she reclaims what was
once hers

all that remains
of that red kite downed in flight
are feathers strewn
across the dirt floor
a testament to former glory
and freedom of the open skies

all living things pass
in time we are a mote of dust
a pin prick in an ocean sky
soon to be forgotten
soon to be replaced
eventually
erased without trace

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

"All things pass in time, we are a mote of dust"....and so it goes, we can remember back when our loved ones were alive, and when nature was alive...the cycle of life and death...your words and descriptions are so vivid clear and with color , I can picture myself walking through this graveyard...the red kite that used to fly...just a remnant of the past...sad and lovely at the same time....
Warmly, B

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Betty for your warm words. Always good to have you visit. All good wishes.
read moreThank you dear Betty for your warm words. Always good to have you visit. All good wishes.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

My pleasure always Chris... have a happy weekend!
Warmly, B

[Ayesha Faiz]

This is really touching. The images are so clear, and it makes you think about life, death, and how nature quietly takes everything back. I truly loved the last paragraph very much. Sad, calm, and beautifully written.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for stopping by Ayesha. Your thoughts are appreciated and valued. All the best. read moreThank you so much for stopping by Ayesha. Your thoughts are appreciated and valued. All the best.

Chris

[DIVYA]

Dear Chris,

Such a beautiful description of how Nature prevails and how it creeps, grows, marches over everything so that nothing of us remains. Someone used to tell me that a couple of generations or maybe 4 or 5 down, no one will even know us or remember our names. There will be no sign that we as certain individuals with our unique personas ever existed. Time just erases everything, doesn't it?

"all living things pass
in time we are a mote of dust
a pin prick in an ocean sky
soon to be forgotten
soon to be replaced
eventually
erased without trace"

Words written forever in the universe.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this poem DIVYA. I love how nature has reclaimed this graveyard. It is a place where I find peace. Have a beautiful weekend.

Chris

[DIVYA]

I'm so happy you have this lovely place of solace. You're welcome, my friend.
🌼🌷🌸

[Neha agrawal]

The way you blend the stillness of the graveyard with nature’s slow reclamation is powerful.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Neha. Your thoughts much appreciated and valued. All the best.

Chris

[Kady R.]

Hiii Chris Shawww!!

This peom send me back in time in a place I uses to live in, had a I park I would go to with a graveyard attacked to it. I would go there from time to time to read the grave stones and learn from the people that have soon past.

"All living things pass" and this is so true, everything seems so temporary.

Wonderful poem.🤗🤗🤗

--Kady

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for your share Kady. Pleased you could relate. Your thoughts are much appreciated. Have a Good Friday.

Chris

[Kady R.]

Thanks Chrisss!! 🤗🤗🤗🥰🥰🥰

[Michael Sun Bear]

Yet again Chris, for me your writing is so evocative, your imagery so imaginative and strong, that I feel right there with you. I so felt the silence of lives forgotten by time, and the almost soundless process of nature reclaiming the graveyard, such that when you twice made me look up, first at the trees, then again as a reflex to the fallen kite, I could almost hear as the only sound the distant cry of hawk or other predator high above. Yes nature reclaims those old graveyards, even the dust of bones, but I trust the Creator reclaims the Spirit of those who once were. MSB

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Michael for sharing your thoughts here. So pleased I was able to take you there with my words and also share something with you which brings meaning and peace to me. Hope you are well and Sunday has been kind to you. All the best.

Chris

[JessyJacob]

Hi Chris,
Hope you are doing good? I am fine.
Will want to visit you once.

Thank you,
Jessy Jacob

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for stopping by dear Jessy. Hope you are keeping well. All good wishes to you and yours.

Chris

[JessyJacob]

Thank you.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

You have told me about this graveyard and wrote a poem so expressive and eerie...gives us the flavor of what you expressed to me how special a place it is.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello dear j. It is a special place and one I like to return to at times. I find peace there in its natural chaos.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

Holy cow! This is so remarkably fine it is a shame no one has claimed it for an anthology. The slant rhyme as internal make it wonderfully melodic.
Just wow, Chris. Wow.

Winston

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you my friend for your encouragement. It helps. All the best.

Chris

[red93]

Jesus said unto her - 'Though a man were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever believeth in me, shall never die.'

✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Tony for that share. I need to be reminded at times. Hope your Sunday has been joyful.

Chris