Forget me not

Beth:s Dad died when she was 10months old.

Of all the flora I have grown,
there's one self-seeding I adore,
that brings in spring its powder blue
to fill the spaces inbetween
red tulips and gold daffodils.

Their tiny yellow centred heads,
create a splash in garden beds.
So loved by Beth when she was six,
she picked a posy for her Dad
to take to his last resting place.

Forget him not is what she said,
and who was I to disagree,
so when she left them lovingly
beneath the branches of a tree
with innocence she paused to say
'my Daddy does remember me'.

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

Wow, amazing how she can remember her dad that young, but even if she didn't get to really interact with him, she must have been told what a great dad he was...and she will have memories of him forever... a poignant poem with lots of color and warmth....
Warmly, B

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Betty. She has no memories of him but in her innocence she hoped he remembered her. Always appreciate your visits. Have a lovely weekend.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome Chris, you as well!
Warmly, B

[Dara]

One can sense the love behind each and every word of your beautiful poem. As a surviving parent to two grown children I understand the need to grieve and at the same time share the memory of a loved one who was not here long enough to know the joy of raising babies born later on. (in my case grandchildren) Your grand daughter will be able to know and love her Daddy through your cherished memories.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Dara, thank you for your understanding in your response. So very much appreciated, as is your visit. I am sorry for your loss as well. My brother died before his grandchildren were born and I know how much my sister in law is saddened by that.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

well done as always Chris ... you spin the tale so easily ... unique rhyme scheme and form ... reading it was very comfortable for me ... like a conversation with a dear and trusted friend ... beautiful innocent Beth ... good on her creating memories of visitation at the very least ... so tragic to loose a parent before one even really has one ... even at age 6 they remember very little of a lost parent :( i think the surviving family has a job to do ... fill in spaces ... show pictures ... and tell tales ;)
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello dear Mr E. Hope all is good in your neck of the woods. Yes Beth was only 10 months old when her Dad died, so she has no recollection of him. We have always made a point of sharing information and when she was little, taking her to the cemetery so she knows and understands what happened to her Dad. This is a snapshot of a memory I wanted to preserve. Her innocent remark really touched me. Always appreciate your visits my friend.

Chris

[Bridget McJane]

This is beautifully written. I can imagine the images as they run through my head as I read. Beautiful and vivid.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Bridget. I appreciate your visit and your thoughts.

Chris

[Tabby Mac]

This piece is beautiful. It brought me to tears and touched my heart. I am sure it was hard to write. What a wonderful way to record a memory. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Tabby

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Tabby. You've put a smile on my face.

Chris

[kitty]

Beautiful I say...written and put across in a gentle and loving way.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you kitty for your lovely response

Chris

[kitty]

Don't mention. Pleasure's mine. Have a good day. Sun's out on this side of GB

[Chris Shaw]

And here too. Have a great day.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

What a very moving poem.

So loved by Beth when she was six,
she picked a posy for her Dad
to take to his last resting place

Those lines really moved me.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Dale. Thank you for your thoughts about this poem. Pleased for your visit.

Chris

[Amada]

Imagination in your writings is the best part I like the most.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Rahul for your thoughts. Always appreciated.

Chris

[Troy Henson]

Very touching piece with some beautiful imagery. Thank you 😊

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Troy for your visit and thoughts.

Chris

[Eilis]

Children are so good at bringing back the purity of feeling, the honesty of feeling perhaps, that we tend to outgrow with time. I wonder if that is why we are so touched by their bursts of openness.

I was definitely touched by the story you told here, Chris. I have a younger brother (half-brother) who lost his father around the same age. I was pretty young as well, so I don’t remember if he had similar feelings as he grew up without a father.

It is lovely to think that a child can find a way to fill a void with imagination. The innocence of flowers and their particular purity are a wonderful candidate to handle the gravity of such a task.

I like the balance you struck here between the beauty of the natural world and the bittersweet nature of the human experience. I thought that was an excellent aspect of the poem.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Eilis for your visit and thoughtful review. Good to see you again. Best wishes
read moreMany thanks Eilis for your visit and thoughtful review. Good to see you again. Best wishes

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

A sad and wonderful poem shared dear Chris. Simple items make us remember thing lost. A flower, a gift to keep love alive in the heart. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Coyote for appreciating this little poem. Flowers are a wonderful gift.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Chris.