Silver Linings

(Sorry the stanza breaks didn't appear. Must be a gliche. This poem was written in four six line stanzas, and a final stanza of three lines)

within the confines of my living room

vibrations from an undiscovered source

caused a plate glass shelf to shift

flip on one side to launch a fine set

of champagne flutes with spiral stems

into orbit

disbelief in my startled eyes

what a racket as they crash landed

on the unsuspecting wood stain

smashed to smithereens

shattered shards of sharpness

spread far and wide

no sticking plaster repair here

a disaster has taken place

my face broken my heart heavy

steps with care to survey the carnage

destruction of wedding gifts

cut glass everywhere

through an undraped window

a curious morning sun peeped in

prisms of rainbow colours danced

delight on left wreckage

turned our room into a disco

of rotating lights, ceiling to floor

softening the disappointment

a silver lining moment

they have a way of doing that

Reviews

[Laura M.Emerson]

This was absolutely lovely, Chris. Rainbows hold a special place in my heart, because you seldom get to see one. For me, they are the ultimate symbol of hope, and for someone who deals with chronic pain and the resulting frequent depression, silver linings like rainbows are powerful reminders of God's sovereign promise of His love for me, as well as for hope, renewal, and peace.

If that truly happened, I'm so sorry that your glasses shattered, Chris. It must have been terrible to watch, particularly since they were cherished wedding gifts. Again, I felt badly about it indeed, but you managed to turn a sad experience into a happy one, even if it was only for a moment. I am grateful for your example, and promise to remember it when I need a pick-me-up on a difficult day.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Laura, thank you so much for your visit and leaving such a beautiful response. I am sorry to learn of your ill health and wish you better times ahead. I also wish you many rainbows, love, peavce and pain free days.

Chris

[Laura M.Emerson]

Thank you so much for your warm wishes, Chris.My pain is much better controlled when it's sunny: unfortunately, it's supposed to rain here all week - Yuck! I hope you have better weather where you are in England! Please message me often - I love getting mail, particularly the electronic kind, because I can answer it without help.Please stay safe and healthy during the remainder of the pandemic.More time to write, but difficult nevertheless. Keep looking for the rainbows!

[Ted Kniffen]

A prism of rainbow colours dancing around the room ... crystal can have that effect. Unfortunate to lose a wedding gift but I suspect the memory will linger for a long time.
On a bright note, at least the glasses were empty ... hopefully.

Good one Chris

[Chris Shaw]

Oh yes Ted, they were empty glasses. Now if they had been filled there would have been the loss of champagne to consider as well :)) Thank you for your thoughtful review and your visit. Take good care.

Chris

[Wild Rose]

Oh gosh > Makes you jump out of your skin when something like that happens
What a loss wedding gifts so precious for the memories (if not in monetary value) [we have some 50+ cheap items from good friends I think of them each time I use them - cheep items from precious friends of so long ago]

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Wild Rose. Sentimental value so important when something like that happens. A gift from someone precious. Yes it does shock when an incident like this happens. Took quite a while to clear up but not before the sunlight gave me a magnificent display of dancing on glass cards. How very pretty that was. Thank you and gave a good Monday. Hope you are keeping well.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

oh my goodness! well done lass! ;) i am drinking that disappointment and loss felt ... haven't we all watched in horror as keepsakes launch, fall and crash on the floor ... but your turn is brilliant ... i am instantly healed and up lifted with all those rainbows .. i almost hear heavenly choirs ;) well done..enjoyed reading .. a delight!

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mr E, your reviews are so uplifting. Ha ha. I didn't quite catch the heavenly choirs though :)) You do put a smile on my face. A poem written a while back and discarded. Thought it deserved to be heard. Hope you are keeping well my friend. All good wishes from a lockdown UK.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

i am keeping very well Chris, thank you ... wishing you the same

[Ruth]

Ah, now this is priceless :) A gem of a piece Chris...there is always some shred even if a shard of positivity to come from chaos. It never is easy to see it and sometimes the events that bring it around are not so welcomed but there is always a light to be found I guess...sorry to hear about the breakages though. Lovely turn around in this piece :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ruth. Oh yes, there were some shards of positivity. That dance of sunlight certainly softened the blow. Breakages are a pain but when there is such great sentimental value attached, even more so. Thank you for your visit and your friendship.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

Yes, there are 'silver linings' of divine intervention.
gently, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

What a lovely thought Pat. That certainly makes to pause and reflect. Thank you so much dear poet for your visit.

Chris

[augustus]

Out of destruction comes reconstruction and hope. I too, love rainbows!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Augustus. I am a firm believer that out of destruction springs forth sprigs of hope. All good wishes and I do appreciate your visits.

Chris

[poetgurl (Plainly Meg)]

I enjoyed this write, quite intriguing

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous for the review. Pleased you enjoyed the read.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

after the wreckage of life, there are rainbows, prisms,
silver linings...we just have to find them... I taught a story to my students called "the destructors" by Graham Greene about a gang of kids who destroy a house from the inside...one of the themes is how there is creation in destruction.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Jacob. Creation in destruction, sounds interesting. I know that name Graham Green. Was he the author of Brighton Rock?

Chris