Aftermath

(With apologies to Byron as one of his poems gave me the idea)

So how will you greet me

when we next meet?

With your arms open wide,

with a kiss on the cheek?

How will you greet me,

I've known you for years?

Will you measure the distance

as you ponder your fears?

How will you greet me,

will you stand back and stare?

Pretend you don't see me,

when you know that I'm there?

How will you greet me

should we meet in the town?

When your sorrow is heavy 

and your spirits are down.

How will I calm you 

when we're standing apart?

When my presence is danger

yet there's love in my heart.

How will you greet me?

How will you greet me?

Reviews

[pinhead07]

Drifting apart and wondering what the person will do when you meet them next, happens quite a lot, I can relate, I’ve been an addict for several years, drifted apart from all of my friends, keep wondering if I should reach out, wondering how they’ll greet me, perhaps they’ve forgotten and moved on, perhaps they’ll welcome me with open arms, anyway, I’m rambling now, this is very nicely written madame :)

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank yous for your visit to my page. Your thoughts were most welcome. Thank you for sharing. All good wishes.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i think i would say "the hell with it" and hug you anyway...
greetings have surely changed but hopefully we haven't...
and Byron wouldn't be offended, he would probably be pleasantly surprised that he is still being read.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

So pleased to see this response back where it belongs Jacob. I have to agree with you, my arms will still reach out for a hug. And thank you for sharing those thoughts about Byron. I had "When we two parted" in mind when I wrote these lines.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

It is a funny business
Van Isl. Where we live is in overall good shape with very little danger yet we do all tend to stand apart
They are talking about reopening schools for a month(?????) and that could be a mistake
Even if you know each other well, who knows about that hug!!
You echo many peoples thoughts

[Chris Shaw]

It's so strange Dave. It just goes against the grain. I couldn't hug my sister when I saw her shopping locally the other day. It just got my mind wandering to how things could be for sometime. We are at that stage contemplating coming out of lockdown. It is too early. The stats are still high here and I for one am only going out once a week to shop for food. Scary. We will know more on Sunday. You take care and thanks for the visit.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

And where is the charming Christine Anne Shaw's next poetic endeavour, he asked?

[Chris Shaw]

Maybe tomorrow Dave :))

[Dave]

You ask a powerful question Chris. I believe that hopefully, and soon, all will return to normal. That our natural inclination to warmly greet and hug and even kiss will not have been lost because of what we're all going through.

Take care - fair lady - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave. I sincerely hope you are right. Social distancing does not suit me at all. Fingers crossed utcwon:t be long before it passes.

Chris

[Dave]

Come on Chris! You're just as much an optimist as I am. Of course I'm right! I hope, I hope!read moreCome on Chris! You're just as much an optimist as I am. Of course I'm right! I hope, I hope!
Bad as it is and as bad as it might yet get, we have to believe that it will end and we'll be better for it.
I'm soooo much with you! Social distancing stinks!!
In any case, be safe and be careful - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

I hope so too :))

[gram linski]

aye the aftermath thing will be strange, will we rejoice and hug or will the stand off become the norm, I am hoping for the former

[Chris Shaw]

What a thought. The stand off is so unappealing. Nothing like a warm hug. Let's hope normal service will resume quickly and safely. Thanks gram for the visit.

Chris

[Abhishek Asthana]

A short and crisp content wherein some realistic facts are described...Humans are utterly bound with the circumstances, not letting them to greet and meet, chase or praise the people... We just hope for a better tomorrow... Poetically written... Thanks for sharing !!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Abhishek. I appreciate your visit and your thoughts. All good wishes.

Chris

[AJNJ]

First of all let me compliment you on the meter and rhyme as I loved these the most here. When done so well, they reinforce the message and they add that extra fervour to it. The repetitive concluding line is like an echoe, a heartrending one. Its a changed world. An era has passed away and we find ourselves uprooted and planted into strange, unfamiliar and unfriendly times and the pain felt is expressed here with eloquence. Perhaps, we may overcome the fear and hesitation with good old faith, reassurance and love. It has carried us through so far and it may be our only hope now.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Pestonjee, thank you for another thoughtful review. We certainly are in strange times of social distancing. Let's hope normal service will resume before too long. Every now and then I return to rhyme abd meter. That's how I started.

Chris

[AJNJ]

Free verse sets me free yet structure somehow gives me sense of accomplishment I can't explain. I love both equally though. You are welcome :)

[Nisha M.]

Christine, this is a beautiful piece that you have written. It is especially relatable now where social distancing has certainly become the norm.

"How will you greet me,
will you stand back and stare?
Pretend you don't see me,
when you know that I'm there?"

I also loved this stanza. Sometimes, we tend to avoid the ones that we have known since we were little because we are almost afraid of how the interaction may turn out and that it is just better to keep it as it was then. Looking forward to reading more of your pieces. xx

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Nisha, thank you for your lovely review. So pleased you enjoyed my write about social distancing.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

Distressing questions.
I, like you, look forward to restoration of traditional human greetings--to a time when every spiritual
town crier announces the time and reassures us, "All is well!"
Timely piece, expertly portrayed.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jimmy. We are living in strange times. Like you I hope normal service will resume soon. This social distancing is just too difficult to deal with, especially where family is concerned.

Chris

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I don't have as much anxiety over all this as most since I try to avoid people as much as possible to begin with. I hug my kin. I don't see that changing. But mostly I'm a crusty curmudgeon who likes his quiet privacy. I greet strangers with a tip of my hat or a wave of my hand.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fabian. I find this social distancing really difficult when it comes to family. I saw my sister out shopping the other day and had to speak to her two metres apart. It was just so weird. Pleased to hear you aren't too concerned about it. All good wishes.

Chris

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I simply have less separation anxiety because I'm mostly a stay-at-home sort to begin with. I think for one to be unconcerned would require a lack of empathy and intelligence.

[Lorry]

I shall wave at you from two metres away, in a hazmat suit, visor and wellies, with taser in hand just in case you get all hugsy 😀
I am so gonna show this to my neighbour. She keeps threatening to lick my face if I don't take my mask off. (She's just missing her family and is away from home for the first time)
Have been thinking about that lately, the aftermath. It has a rather dystopian feel to it methinks. Perhaps men will doff their caps and bow, and the ladies will.... Still bloody ignore me 😀
Wonderful write Chris. I wonder what Byron would make of our pre covid greetings and shenanigans. He'd have thought mass lunacy was the infection, as he offered you his silk handkerchief no doubt.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for making me smile Lorry. This social distancing is so not me. Yes, I am a hugger for my sins. So weird when I saw my sister out shopping locally the other day and we stood apart talking. Normally there would be kisses and hugs. Got me wondering it did. I hope this new order is short lived. Keep safe.

Chris

[Lorry]

Feels like its been going on forever and every day feels like a sunday, with no one around, even the wildlife.
Haven't seen our local owls for weeks now. O think they know something we don't.
At least tonights pots and pans rattling helps us all realise we are not the last human after all.
Ps... Did you see the new banksy? A boy playing witha superhero nurse doll. In all good stockists this xmas 😀

[Chris Shaw]

I did see the Banksy. Love it and yes I will be banging the pots and pans. Highlight of the week:))

[Lorry]

No talk of a wage rise for them though. Hmm! 🤔

[Chris Shaw]

It needs to happen. Nurses and health care assistants are grossly underpaid.