Spare A Thought

Sun beams play on pine cones
that litter dampened ground
beneath the tallest evergreens
a sea of bluebells found
intense in April sapphire
that matches skies of blue
spread wide throughout the woodland
a calming pleasant view

and then the sound of laughter
of children out of sight
from gardens shielded by a wall
eclipsing springtime light
how joyful in their living
stop listen give some thought
for all those little ones elsewhere
who can not play in clean fresh air
in zones of conflict caught

Reviews

[altIIneo]

A poignant disparity. The joy of children contrasts sharply with the harsh reality faced by those in conflict zones, who lack the basics. Moving.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for stopping by. Your thoughts on my poem are valued and appreciated.

read moreThank you so much for stopping by. Your thoughts on my poem are valued and appreciated.

Chris

[Desert Knave]

I love how much I got caught up in the beautiful descriptions of the scene only to be reminded that not every kid is seeing a lot of joy around them. Nicely done. ~Jim

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Jim. I look to the natural world to find my peace and calm to try and offset the horrors elsewhere. I appreciate you stopping by.

Chris

[Lorry]

Excellent point made Chris, so very electrocutionally...I mean eloquently. Damn predunctive toast...I mean predictive text!
Capturing the meaning prefectly, I mean perfectly of my new favourite word, Wonder- to see that others are the centres of their own universes and we are but a bit play character within it.
Nice sondering... which is probably the first compliment you've been paid like that! 😃

[Chris Shaw]

I thank you Lorry and your predunctive toast. We have to make our own calm in a world with so much conflict, Have yerself a happy contented Friday.

Chris

[John Sullivan]

Such a heartwarming image to start us off, such a bitter truth to finish. I don't see how all this madness can maintain forever... but somehow it does. Boggles the mind, and it seems each new day is a new dimension of crazy. Jacob wrote that fine piece about the children, the minnows... and the piranhas. It comes to mind.

I go back to your starting image, so serene. A moment of calm in your words, and hopefully, your world.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John. I find my calm in nature these days but even that can also become violent at times. We all need a refuge away from the madness. We live in dangerous times.

Chris

[John Sullivan]

That's putting it mildly, I fear. Stay safe, Ms. Shaw, and happy thoughts.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John.

[John Sullivan]

Of course.

(:

[keith]

how many more must die?
i apologize to the world in my thoughts for not having done more in effort to stop our insane uncontrollable fukin idiot. good we have TACO, eh?
your writes bring to me the gracious gift of calm.
i do enjoy absorbing your thoughts now and then ... just because.
albert would approve, never set your pen upon the dusty shelves. you are better than that, thanks.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for mentioning Albert. His gift to me was poetry. A place of refuse when the going gets tough. Pleased I can bring a little calm in a mad world. Take care Keith.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

At least you don't have to catch the nasty parts of whatever is about to take place. I'm just "young" enough in f*****g America in just the right geographical area to catch some interesting times. Anyone under 45 is probably screwed. Unless they have ten million dollars in a stable currency. If you are a big fan of the Marie Antoinette timeline, America might be a good time... just wait until after November. The wealth class is about to take some heat... just wait. It will take a minute, but it will happen. People will pay for this socially/politically in a way we haven't seen since th 1800's.

[Chris Shaw]

I hope the madness stops. Never have I feared so much when all I was taught to value has gone pear shaped. I am constantly worried for my grandchildren. Poetry can bring me some calm.

[John the Baptist]

The last stanza brings the reader's attention to a screeching halt. We are gifted with scenes of nature and children playing joyfully and then are reminded that children in other parts of the world are suffering the effects of ongoing war. It is one of the great ironies of this stage of evolution. We go from happy children to politicians and warriors.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much John for your thoughts. Sad world we live in.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

Your words honest and true dear Chris. Palestine, Lebanon and Ukraine. And now Iran. Once I saw starvation and fear in Africa. Most countries are against and nothing can stop the monsters. Thank you dear friend for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Coyote. Hope you are well. Sadly we live in distressing times. The innocent children suffer so and the monsters continue to cause havoc. Hoping for change.

Chris

[Shownashappening]

Awesome imagery and a message I frequently find myself attending to.

Great work.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for your encouragement. Pleased you stopped by today.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Those kids deal with such unfair situations...we should all have fresh air.

Your descriptions are so amazing....
I am looking at a sky of blue this moment.

j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear j. Pleased you have blue sky, I hope you have sun too. I wish all the children in the world would benefit from bright sunny days and fresh air.

Chris