In Fields of Gold

a happy memory from poppies, not a sad one. (Atkinson's London - fragrance - Californian Poppy)

Under the sun in fields of gold,

grow poppies in late August heat.

Bright clusters showing off their skirts

of silken boldness, indiscreet.

Flirtatious as you pass them by,

they can not fail to catch your eye.

Elfreda, my paternal Nan,

whose lipstick kisses stained me red,

applied her perfume sparingly,

a subtle touch is best she said.

In tiny screw top bottle bought

from Woolworths was her favoured sort.

Though poppies often make us sad,

reminders of past war torn years,

of loss of life and sacrifice,

a source of sorrow not of cheer,

forgive me if once in a while

these flowers yield from me a smile.

Reviews

[Neville]

there is so much squeezed into those three distinctly separate, yet perfectly linked stanzas that I must confess to having come over all unnecessary .. a most beautiful poem & truly .. the visuals are just perfect and I can smell the Californian Poppy even now (it was the very first bottle of perfume I bought for my own Mum) and I do believe we both loved it as much as each other ...... I wonder if it is still available?

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Your review is lovely and nostalgic. Californian Poppy was very popular in the 50's and 60's. Not surprised your mum loved it as did my nan. I don't know whether it's still available, I will Google and let you know :) Thank you Neville for giving this oldie an airing.

Chris

[Neville]

I loved it too & would be sure to buy even if it gave me just a faint hint of my mum .... thank you Chris

Neville

[Island Hippy]

Chris this made me smile wide! Your Nan... what a lady! with her lipstick kisses and Woolworths (haha) perfume, something so loveable about that! I cant help but remember my UK gran who wore lipstick every-day and wore the same fragrance for as long as I can remember - I wish I had brought something like that of hers back to Hawaii with me now. Many mahalo for this treasure x

[Chris Shaw]

Aw you had a UK gran who wore lipstick everyday too and the same fragrance? Then I am smiling with you my friend. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Moonie]

Ha, and i am actually smiling! What a gem! Especially like the part about granny kisses...i could almost smell that subtle dash of perfume and feel the hug.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you, apart from the scent, the lipstick also seemed to cling to her breath. I can remember that Max Factor stain even now. What I wouldn't do for one of those kisses.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

I love your sweet Nan Elfreda with her scarlet granny kisses! What a vivid vision of fields of poppies you paint- wonderful color and personification of these “flirtatious” little vixens. Your eloquent words let us feel the texture of the hot, golden August day. Then the verse cleverly segues into a perfect childhood memory. Great Woolworth’s reference. Yes, how fragrances bring people back to our minds’ eye- my Grandma wore Evening in Paris that came in a sapphire blue bottle. She dabbed it behind each earringed ear when she was going out. Your last verse brings us back to a sadder conotation for the poppy, though we smile with you at their beauty. Thank you for sharing this jewel of a poem Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Annette, those little blue bottles of Evening In Paris I can remember along with Californian Poppy. Those are the only two perfumes I can remember as a small child. I guess there just wasn't the choice back in those days that we have now. Thank you for your lovely response.

Chris

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

You’re so welcome Chris.))

[NANCY DON]

This is so nice and loving. Just like you. Maternal and warm.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your lovely review Nancy

Chris

[Wild Rose]

What a picture you paint with your words > under the sun in fields of gold > I can see the ripening corn and the harvesting machine going round knotting the string to make the staves - men in shirt sleeves building stooks

Us kids playing round ( hide and seek - tag ) what ever you play don't damage the stooks

Poppys and other wild flowers round the field edges - Pop bottle full of cold tea to slack the thirst

!947 on uncles farm

[Chris Shaw]

Good morning Wild Rose, pleased I took you back to a happy place. Your Uncle's farm sounds a place where you had lots of fun.

[DIVYA]

We do not have Poppies where we live and it was a pleasure to drink in their vintage, nostalgic beauty through your beautiful words. You have connected the flower to many special memories, some sad and some fond with lovely picturisation and it was a treat for the senses. Lovely flow and great rhyming too. Appreciated so much, dear Chris!

[Chris Shaw]

You may get the opportunity DIVYA to see poppies for yourself when you visit. I do hope so, they are a most beautiful flower that grow wild in amid the corn and green fields. Thank you so much for your lovely review.

Chris

[DIVYA]

Oh yes! I'll surely look forward to it, Chris! Thanks for telling me.

[Chris Shaw]

Lots of open countryside on the outskirts of Oxford, you won't have far to look.

[DIVYA]

Wow and there are lots of walking excursions around the city as well as Bath and some other places planned, it will be such a treat.

[Chris Shaw]

You will be very close to the river Thames as well which flows through Oxford and the surrounding countryside. Walking is a great way to see things. Bath isn't that far away and is well worth a visit. They have a Roman spa there.

[DIVYA]

Bath looks stunning in pics. Truly a heritage city...

[Chris Shaw]

Yes indeed. You have lots to look forward to DIVYA.

[DIVYA]

Indeed, looking forward to all of it Chris! I leave in a couple of days time.

[Chris Shaw]

My, as soon as that? How long will you be over here for?

[DIVYA]

I will be in Oxford for 3 weeks Chris. After that, I'll move to Enniskelin near Belfast where my brother lives. I'll stay with them for a couple of weeks and then its back home.

[Chris Shaw]

You have quite a trip to look forward to. Been to Belfast on business too, not for a while though. Hope you will still be checking in on writerscafe while you travel.

[DIVYA]

Of course Chris. Actually, I'd like to document my experiences in some creative way. I've been to UK a couple of times to stay with family before but this time, I'll be learning and on my own for quite a while.

[Chris Shaw]

Plenty of opportunity for some creative writing. You must visit the Ashmolean Museum in the centre of Oxford, there are lots of other museums there as well. You won't be short on things to visit for sure.

[DIVYA]

Yes, there are museum excursions planned too. I think these will be in addition to the city tour. Since it's an intensive creative writing course, I hope to gain approach to writing from new angles.

[Crowley]

Wow...so many memories. That was a fantastic trip back through the olfactory senses. Woolworth...haven't seen that in a while. Wonderful Stuff Christine.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Crowley, Woolworths sold decent perfume way back in the 50's and 60's. Trip down memory lane. Chris

[wordman]

you painted a lovely image

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you very much for your kind response.

Chris

[wordman]

you`re welcome

[emmajoy]

Your words, your pHrasing - so gently, finely voiced, dear Chris. As to tHeir content - memories, sHaring, love, sigHt and scent - How delightfully, sincerely precious. Tis a poem full of EverytHing beautiful

Sending you a Hugful of love and gentle smiles. God bless.

(trouble with my h/ H, sorry.)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you lovely Em. When I think of those lipstick kisses and scent, I do so with love and tears. How I long for the stain of her lipstick now x

[emmajoy]

My pleasure, dear friend. H ad two real grannies, one sane and cuddly, Homely. OthHer was an alpHa woman.. exciting life Her! Missed for different reasons. Memories beautiful for you and so kind you to s h are tHem. Always will be utterly precious. Like poppies, memories turn up unexpectedly, ever spectacular, colourful, magnificent. (You)