Forgotten Pathways

the most vibrant of days
wraps itself in fruitful colour
we make our way through carpeted
displays of heaped leaf fall
kicking tumbles of rusts and ochres
mellow with shapely yellows and
earthy browns between roasted umbers
crisp dry leaves underfoot
the crunchy crackle of autumnal
presence

we pass cracked headstones
clad in green ivy creeping
crosses uprooted and tilted
no weeping from the long lost dead
trees stretch their high reaching heads
into heavenly blue
sun’s rays filtering down
casting shadows stealing light

only the shrill cry overhead
of red kites soaring
masters of the Sunday sky
agile and angled
winging their way through
flimsy whispers of white ghosts
sailing silent on seas over
old England

I find myself in quiet prayer
yes I am praying

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Old England does have memories. I wish when I was station in Germany to roam her more. I liked the story and the feel of the white ghosts nearby. Thank you, dear Chris for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you my friend. It is a peaceful place to wander in all seasons and remind ourselves of a different era. Nature has reclaimed the graveyard and is comfortable with the ghosts of the departed. Old England has many memories.

Chris

[The Ann Stories]

Nice walk. The fringes of Virginia Waters?

[Chris Shaw]

Not Virginia Waters, though I have been there and certainly found it to be both peaceful and beautiful. This is much closer to my home. An old Victorian graveyard, which has now been reclaimed by nature. Many thanks for your thoughts.

Chris

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Beautiful Chris. I loved all the descriptives and of course praying. God bless you x

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Julie. Hope you are keeping well. All the best to you. Have a good weekend.

Chris

[Michael Sun Bear]

So many words Chris you gathered together and carefully placed so that we could see the physical world that surrounds you, but only the last ten words really seized my attention, aroused my interest. I have lately been praying more than usual, and your poem left me wondering about your prayer. Is she simply giving thanks for the beauty of the day? Is she making a request of God? I wanted the poem to go on, to reveal the interior landscape of your heart, the nature of your prayer.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Michael. The interior landscape of my heart? I think that is a poem for another day, but what a lovely thought. I don’t pray that often anymore, but this place has been reclaimed by nature and it emphasises to me just how small we all are in the bigger picture. All things pass, including all the hurts of the day. They eventually fade and die too. This place is great to escape to for a bit of peace. Have a great Wednesday and special thanks for your interest in my writing.

Chris

[RomaJ]

This poem reads like a meditation on memory and mortality, where the beauty of autumn entwines with quiet reverence for the dead. I love how the poem moves from tactile detail .. the “crunchy crackle of autumnal presence” .. to the solemnity of cracked headstones and tilted crosses. The red kites overhead feel like guardians, slicing through the stillness, and the closing line, “yes I am praying,” carries a soft, profound weight. It’s a gentle, reflective journey that balances life’s fleeting beauty with the permanence of what has passed

[Chris Shaw]

The red kites are very much like guardians of this place Roma. It has been reclaimed by nature and I love walking there in all seasons. Thank you so much for your understanding words. Have a great Wednesday.

Chris

[hiren]

Hi Chris,

I was walking the metro stop into Dubai mall with my parents, I was with my parents but my heart stolen by the love of mother-in-law and her shrill voice "okay" and I felt lost in branded shops, I felt when she is going to call me back to home, it's true how much we have wealth but heart just misses what it loves though rich showrooms were dazzling my eyes were seeing home from Dubai lights, bhurj khalifa looked short infront of my home, 🏡.

The morning memories haunt me to go back to prithvi raj Chauhan dad's space felt great place to live with memories of him and my son.

Now at this time I felt I miss both east and west sides and tears mine each cry for them.

Life left me puzzled which way I should chose then my brain split told me you have only one heart where would you place over I said I want to wish for my man a flat in bhurj khalifa.

My team is when appa, and amma, you both never told me when is my life is it that my time .....

I know my life my heart my fate combinedly seeks your call.
Did came for him , got my son back, served my parents and I didn't get a chance to live with you.
It was the same age I committed to him and now his turn to come back for me...

I never had any bad habit, I aligned duty with love... That's how I am made then what's my fault.....

Jessy Jacob ❤️
Signing and counting days to go back to my home....
Nov 4 2025, Tuesday.

[Neville]

I've got a feeling you will eventually find your way and come out the other end both smiling and golden .. I also believe it's hard for you to imagine at the moment .. but anyway our Chris, you just nailed autumn for the moment in all its glory to this particular page .. Neville 😎🌿🍀🥬🍁🍃🍂🍁🍃🍂💜👍

[Chris Shaw]

You noticed there was no golden in my description Neville. Plentiful leaves of brown and ochre though. The sun will return, it always does. Thank you for your lovely autumnal review. Happy Wednesday.

Chris 💜

[Neville]

Yes, I noticed Chris .. 💜

[red93]

Fabulous Chris - and you have a painter's eye for colour and no mistake. What was that hit song from the 60s - ah yes 'California Dreaming' by the Mamas and the Papas. 'All the leaves are brown / and the sky is grey ...' A definite Hit this Excellent Piece ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Tony for mentioning the Mamas and Papas. How I loved that group, and Mama Cass, her voice was super special. This place near home is special too, especially at the moment with the finest of autumn colour. Have a great Wednesday.

Chris

[red93]

✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[John the Baptist]

A beautiful description of an autumn day in the UK here. The scene is apparently a graveyard, but that somber setting cannot detract from nature's gorgeous autumnal display. The beauty moves the speaker to prayer, probably in thanks for the lovely scene.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John. Nature has reclaimed this graveyard. At this time of year, it is especially beautiful with autumn colour. Perfectly peaceful and off the beaten track. All good wishes.

Chris

[Jansy]

Chris, Forgotten Pathways feels like walking through a cathedral made of rust, gold, and ochre leaves. I can hear the crunch underfoot, smell the autumn air, and watch the red kites scribble invisible stories across the Sunday sky.

The tipped crosses, ivy, and quiet graves don’t weigh it down....they make the sun-dappled moments and soaring birds feel even more alive. You’ve turned a simple walk into meditation, a stroll into prayer, and ordinary autumn details into something quietly sacred.

I’ll be carrying this one with me on leaf-strewn paths for a while, notebook in hand, hoping the world whispers back in your rhythm.

James

[Chris Shaw]

Dear James, I love your review. I don’t find this graveyard remotely sad or chilling. It is a place of peace and quiet where nature has reclaimed. It is great to go there for a walk and at this time of year the colours are spectacular. ‘ walking through a cathedral’ is a fab way to describe how this place makes me feel. Happy Wednesday.

Chris