Weeping Silent In The Rainfall

Imber on the Salisbury Plain - once a village, taken by the Ministry of Defence

Empty houses, empty spaces,

faceless people, gone the traces

of the former friendly faces,

Imber on the Salisbury plain.

Only ghosts dwell in the shells now

of the terraced homes and mansions,

yet the voices of the unheard

echo through each gloom filled room.

Promises were made though broken,

token words in print and spoken.

Sacrificial houses taken,

trusting handshakes were mistaken.

Sealed with wax that died and crumbled,

mustn't fret now, mustn't grumble.

Play our part in England's warfare,

when it ends we'll all return.

Reviews

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Followed the story of the Salisbury attack with great interest as well as horror at the possibility of such lethal kind of warfare in our times, Chris. An entire city in England becoming a ghost town in our times portends of darker days for the world. You have captured the feeling of desolation so well here. Thank you for sharing.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dhara, this was not about the most recent attack in Salisbury, but about something which happened in WW2, but I can see how the most recent incident in Salisbury could apply. Many, many thanks for your interest and response.

Chris

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

You’re welcome Chris. It was a pleasure!

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

It’s interesting though that the same city was a focal point of another unsettling development. I’ll read up on the WW2 story.

[Chris Shaw]

It's well worth a read. It is an area used by the Ministry of Defence. My Dad did his national service there in the 1950's, just after the war.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

So interesting! It will be great to know more. Thank you, Chris.

[barleygirl]

WOW! This is some of your best rhyme & rhythm, with a compelling pace of storytelling thru-out. I know nothing about this situation, but I love how you pick so many different topics to write about, historic ideas you share in a way that's interesting, even to someone with no previous knowledge. I love the way you tell this story with a blend of historical details, including strong human interest, so these scenes come alive with your imaginative depictions of what must've happened. Very informative! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Margie. The lost village. Sadly nothing changes. Still in the hands of the ministry of defence, nobody has been allowed back.

Chris

[LazerRays]

Right off the bat you give the hint something awful happened her. A ghostly place really sets the mood. All the detail makes you think about whatever happened to those people who once inhabited there. It's interesting for me to read something like this. It's not often I find poems about things like these and so I'll take my sweet time enjoying it. Nice work!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Sarah. Pleased you found this poem appealing. Delighted to see you visit.

Chris

[A hare off]

I really enjoyed this poetic journey back in time. Though war is not enjoyable, your poem was.Nice rhymes and flow. You are very good.

[Chris Shaw]

Tha ks so much for your lovely review :)

Chris

[john l smith]

More edjumencatiun courtesy of a Shaw poem
All new to me and was this not the site of the recent poisoning issue?
Sounds like an ill-fated area
You have certainly captured the mood
Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Dave. Well it is an area where the ministry of defence operate. So I guess it:s more likely to happen there.

Chris

[Jon Roggie]

This reminded me of the Downwinders. Nuclear tests in the early days, and the medical problems grew miles away. Still no admission of responsibility.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jon, your visits always welcome. All good wishes.

Chris

[Sunshine G]

War is a real horror, a vast one. Just thinking of the possibility of one coming can cause psychological effects on anyone. Of course the aftereffects are as worst, not just on the place but mostly to the people who lived in it. This is a very catchy work, thank you for sharing.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Blue Virgo, welcome to my page. Your visit and thoughts very much appreciated. War's, easy to start, endings blistering and unforgettable on those who have suffered and survived.

Chris

[Relic]

I like this. It gives me a Lord of the rings vibe though I know it's fact and not fiction.

"Stonehenge, where the demons dwell, and the banshees live and they do live well...
'Spinal Tap.' :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Tim. Yep not that far from Stonehenge in the county of Wiltshire. I appreciate your visit.read moreThanks Tim. Yep not that far from Stonehenge in the county of Wiltshire. I appreciate your visit.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

Fascinating subject matter.
An exceptional piece of work!
You truly are extremely talented, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jimmy and for that very generous compliment.

Chris

[Lorry]

Now I am thinking of all the unseen displacement of war. Villages taken over, families sent to the countryside,, not knowing whats going on. And here we are in the days of technology, finding anything that isnt instantly updateable, incomprehensible.
My parents, who were still kids, got sent to ireland and spent the war on holiday, for want of a better phrase. They came home, to what was a busy town (currently 80,000 pop.), with seven houses left standing, because the clyde shipyards were targeted. And the struggle didnt end there, rationing and revuilding went on for years afterwards.
I hope the villages have been properly reclaimed, back to their former glory.

[Chris Shaw]

Sadly Lorry, some of those villages are still in the hands of the Mod who have no plans to let them go. Makes me angry. Thank you for sharing what your family went through. Dreadful times and the centenary coming up of the end of WW1.

Chris