The Coin's Other Face

(for those in dark places)

some would say it
resembles tooth decay
on a bad day without
pain relief
.
or a once waxy lemon
left on the side till its juices
have dried, so it pips squeal
to imperfection
.
or even like squeezing blood
from an ancient stone
alone in destructive sand
in a cruel desert
.
it maybe many helping hands
who can't reach across a vast
divide however willing and
hard they try
.
give me a silver shilling
for every dark thought caught
in corridors of the mind
a wealthy woman I would be
.

Reviews

[Ana Papaya]

I'd be right there sharing in the wealth, Chris.
I always appreciate the experiences you share in your writing.
So clear that you've lived and "been there done that".
I find that comforting. Only in the sense that I find it inspiring and admire and respect the strength and warmth you share in equal measure.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Ana. Yes, I have been round the block a few times :) I can certainly say I have seen, heard and experienced some delightfully positive and woefully negative stuff. That's what life is :)
I appreciate your visit abd continued encouragement.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

I suspect thou canst only acquire silver shillings at the numismatist's shop.
As for your familiarity with dark thoughts, you are, after all, a highly functioning poetess.
Considering such concepts better equips you to create thoughtful, insightful verse.
"The Coin's Other Face" being an excellent example of that unique thought and insight.

[Chris Shaw]

Always so encouraging Jimmy and I am ever grateful for that. Thank you.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and I would be a wealthy man...but alas, I am poor...dark thoughts but no silver.
really good piece, Chris.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Dark thoughts, no silver but a heart of pure gold my friend. That, you are. Thank you so much.
read moreDark thoughts, no silver but a heart of pure gold my friend. That, you are. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

I think of dark clouds with silver linings and I think of all things beautiful emerging from all that silver that you could have collected! As says the lovely title, darkness is one face of the coin. The other side being limitless beauty and light that you have, my friend.

[Chris Shaw]

Ditzy my very favourite Kat, I thank you for your wonderful review. Balance is so important is it not? Treats for you.......

Chris

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Yes. And you inspire us all so much with your balance, my friend!
Thanks for the lovely kitty treats :) meow

[DIVYA]

I know those days only too well when we just can't seem to get over the darkness. We grapple with one dark thought and there pops in another. An onslaught of awful, intrusive thoughts. For me it brings on a gut reaction, an unpleasant nauseous feeling like a hangover and I dont feel like getting out of bed for days. This is such a relatable and interesting poem, dear Chris! And such a fine conclusion drawn too....

[Chris Shaw]

Dear DIVYA, so many are blighted by dark thoughts. Pleased that you can relate, but not that you suffer so. Thank you so much for your valued visit. So good to see you back posting on WC my friend.

Chris ((.))

[Lorry]

You would have plenty of cash to afford all those t shirts from where you've been, done and seen Chris.
We do seem to accumulate those thoughts no matter where we go, but maybe it's just our internal filing systems way of filing our real treasures seperately. All the beautiful thoughts and people and things that truly make a life special.
Now, where didd that can of duraglit I bought in 1979 get to? 😀

[Chris Shaw]

I've been duraglitting my happy memories meself Lorry. You have to remember to do that don'tcha? 1979, you tight git. That ain't gonna work now, you got to be kiddin? :))

Chris

[Lorry]

Nope. Found it in a toolkit of all places and kept it as a retro memento. The duraglit inside was all teeny and as you said unusable, but the tim still smells of it after all these years.
And yes, I have the weirdest toolbox ever. Matches, candles, chopsticks and a used toothbrush, though not used on teeth. Even have an old black cherry shoe polish for some reason (i think it was to try to cover a scratch on a coffee table)
Oh yeah, and some tools too 😀

[barleygirl]

A most fresh, astute & hard-hitting collection of examples to illustrate one's point! I believe most people think dark thoughts, in particular, critical of others, & it takes a lifetime of work to keep ourselves in the "friendly" zone (more or less). This one ugly human tendency is why I'm a loner. I don't want people hashing over me or my life, nor do I want to do the same to others. We all have that bad side to the coin . . . some hide it, some pretend it away, while others sidestep it! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

You are so right Margie. We all have a dark side and we all deal with it in different ways. Pleased you enjoyed this write. Thank you for your review and for dropping by.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

A wonderful bit of reflection
I think this could apply to very many of us
(although I've never had a dark thought!)

[Chris Shaw]

Hey, stop kidding me. We have all visited dark places, haven't we :) Many thank yous Dave for checking this one out. Most appreciated.

Chris