Before The Others Knew

Before The Others Knew

A Poem by Chris Shaw

In a Torbay hospital bed served by the
pitiful privacy of Oxford blue curtains
propped up pillows providing last comfort

His pallid skin remained warm to touch
peaceful in sleep, no sign of breathing
no response to my weeping

I leaned forward to kiss his forehead,
five times in all, once for myself,
a further four times for absent siblings

My tears spilled on to his cheeks,
as I stood back for one last time
Dad was crying too, with borrowed tears.


© 2019 Chris Shaw


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Featured Review

that is just about the finest sweetest most lovely and sad memory you could possibly have dear Chris I know it is peppered with all of the wonderful things you shared with him but the tribute of your love upon his cheeks sends me goosebumps. what a beautiful sharing.... rhyme queen sublime

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Aw Bunny that is one beautiful review you have left me and I am so thankful because I wasn't sure ab.. read more
Lisasview

10 Months Ago

Good for you dearest Chris for writing your thoughts to share with us all.. Losing ones father is ho.. read more



Reviews

Hello and welcome back. No, that's not right! Wait a minute.....
Hey, I'm back and somehow I've forgettified how to review. But this is beautifully written Chris. I wonder how many heart wrenching scenes have played out behind those Oxford blues. How many final scenes play their last with only sobs and dull footsteps in hallways to break the silence.
I remember the dread when my dad got moved into a private room, away from others not wanting to know it would be his last night, afraid for their own end. I remember everything going quiet, like the building somehow knew. Or maybe I just didn't hear. I think time stood still too.
A private moment, beautifully shared.

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Aw alphabetti spaghetti poems yay, how I love them :) Lorry lite or full sugar Lorry I am pleased to.. read more
Lorry

4 Years Ago

It's either that or she was only pretending to be okay when I asked who broke the bathroom scales. I.. read more
Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Scales and moustaches are off boundary. You blokes will never learn :))
With borrowed tears, Wow! what a line! powerful and sad. I like this, it tugged at my heartstrings..

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thank you Kit for another review. So appreciated.

Chris
Chris this is so beautifully expressed. Your love for him is so obvious. I only pray the tears you shed were for happy rememberances.

Take care - Dave

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Many thank yous Dave for your visit. Hope all is good with you.

Chris
This is beautiful, sad, and very believable. I saw it all before me and wondered what the whole story was. I thought it was probably the narrator's father lying there, but then found it wasn't the case. Father's tears are borrowed--there's much going on that we don't know.

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thank you Sam for such a lovely review. It was my Dad and he was and still is very much loved. Twent.. read more
Samuel Dickens

4 Years Ago

I'm sorry to have misinterpreted.
Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

No, don't say sorry Sam. My poem once on the page is completely open to the reader to interpret as t.. read more
The finest verse, tragically beautiful.

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Many thanks Em for responding to this one. All good wishes to you.

Chris
Painfully Inscribed with an emotional strife,
A feeling heavy enough to drive the heart hard,
but with courage the heart held itself together,
managing to give its weaknesses nothing but a smile.
The kisses, the touch, and the hopeful glance,
are all the hologram of the striving heart.
Sadness turns to joy and not forever bitterness,
when you manage not to give it your strength.

This piece is really beautiful, and I found it constructive.



Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and beautiful review. Kay. Truly appreciated.

C.. read more
Deeply sad felt emotions tears had to be shed an experience best wished not shared sorry

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thank you Kent. It had to be written. It, 's taken 28 years to transfer it from my head to print.read more
You paint this sad scene in the heart of a flowing freeverse poem Chris. It reminded me of the same scene with my mother after she died following surgical intervention.

Posted 4 Years Ago


The alliteration sparkles. It is sad. Some might argue, but it is an incredible gift to be part of someone passing. I was present when my wife's father passed. Tears flowed and yet there was a feeling of peace as well.

Difficult to write I'm sure.

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Thanks Ted. This one has been in my head for 28 years. I just got round to finishing it. I couldn't .. read more
Ted Kniffen

4 Years Ago

Your Dad would be pleased!
Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

My Dad would be delighted, you are right there :))

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24 Reviews
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Added on July 31, 2019
Last Updated on July 31, 2019

Author

Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw

Berkshire, United Kingdom



About
Albert, my paternal grandfather introduced me to Tennyson when I was nine. I have loved poetry ever since but did not attempt writing a single piece until I was 40. It's never too late to try somethin.. more..

Writing
Spoken Spoken

A Poem by Chris Shaw



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