Sentinel

our fragile darling
how precious you are
in your current ease
of breaking

we are taking
no chances when
it comes to your shine
now sleeping

someone has to stand
on guard while the
going ahead is
tough and rough

while the highway
is littered with the
hard knocks of
unfair travelling

Reviews

[Lorry]

This sounds like you are the sentinel standing guard over possibly a child or perhaps a faithful pet. No matter who, as they are loved and watched over, just to make the sentinels mind a bit easier perhaps.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lorry. Happy Easter to you. Hope the sun shines on you all up there in the highlands.
read moreThank you Lorry. Happy Easter to you. Hope the sun shines on you all up there in the highlands.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

One wonders who is being addressed here. The speaker's tone sounds like one talking to a child, although it could be an adult dealing with an illness. The last two verses assure us that the addressee is one who cannot go it alone. Good luck to the guardians.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Happy Easter weekend.

Chris

[Neville]

this is deep & has an air of mystery to it that I think may well go down further than that which is more immediately obvious .. and I can't help myself but like it .. Neville 💜

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Neville , happy Easter to you and yours

Chris 💜

[Neville]

since second visits are so very precious, let me just say this the once .. this time around I felt this twice as much .. 💜

[Chris Shaw]

I think you are well qualified in feelings:) Thank you also for a second precious visit on this out pouring 💜

[Relic]

Taking care of someone else is a big responsibility. Sometimes even a cough can send your heart racing.

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, it is a huge responsibility and I know you have done this. Thank you for stopping by today Tim to read my poem. Hope all is good with you.

Chris

[FlatDaddy]

Oh, Chris, methinks you mean much more than the base color of your words. There are many evils in our world, and some are cloaked in mirrors so when we peer at them we see ourselves. Your sentinel stands guard against them, fearsome, yet fragile, for its power resides in the words we choose to give it. We must shout, my friend, even when we whisper.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello FD, thank you kindly for your interesting thoughts about my poem. That’s why I love poetry, because it is so subjective and open to interpretation. I do have a sentinel, a silver birch tree that has stood on guard close to my bedroom window for years. We all need a sentinel. This poem, I am the sentinel for one of my younger sisters who currently has real health issues. I really appreciate your visit and your thoughtful words. Have a lovely day.

Chris

[FlatDaddy]

Ta, of course, my dear; but I have no doubt you understood my reasoning. I could hear you nodding from here. My best to you, and thank you for your always wonderful words. I wonder what masterpieces you might have written had you started your literary career at a much younger age. I am sure we would be astounded.

[Chris Shaw]

My best to you too. The timing was right for me. As for masterpieces, I’ll leave that to the educators on site, who know what they are doing:) I am happy to scribble away in my old age to my heart’s content, and when my muse decides to visit:)

[Michael Sun Bear]

Sweet and loving words. I particularly like your last stanza. Many of us know that road.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Michael, the words are loving and for someone currently struggling with ill health. I appreciate your thoughts.

Chris

[Soren]

I take this as the loving care of a parent overlooking a newborn child sleeping. It is a statement of devotion and care to protect the helpless and vulnerable. Although it could be one lover overlooking another it seems to be a child in my mind it rings softly and tenderly in my ear. Very nice Chris

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Soren. I like your interpretation of my poem. I actually wrote it about one of my younger sisters who is struggling with serious health problems at the moment. It is of course about protection and care I of the vulnerable. I really appreciate your thoughts.

Chris

[Soren]

You are most welcome Chris and my best wishes for your sister

[Davidgeo]

I just watched The Shining less than 12 hours ago so this is freaking me out man

[Chris Shaw]

Oh my goodness, that movie made a lasting impression on me !! This poem is a different type of frightening. Thanks for stopping by to remind me of Jack.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

Have you ever seen the making of the shining? Oh my, they do not make movies like that anymore... also... Jack and Stanley are both jerks. Watching the making of documentary made me feel even more for Shelley. It's like... PTSD incarnate. Stanley... Stanley, Stanley... I think that dude was some kind of psychotic genius. We should talk about 2001 sometime.

[Davidgeo]

this is "the making of the..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSMf_NXjMP8

[Davidgeo]

I do apologize.