After Dark

forgotten in a chipped clay pot

half hidden by composted leaves

beneath bare branches where in march

magnolias make purple blooms

there where all is darkly drear

where recent snowfall left its mark

a cluster of white bashful bells

in wintry coldness huddle close

a sign of growth a sign of life

galanthus flowers mid the rot

rebirth i hear my heart strings sing

Persephone brings news of spring

Reviews

[Helen]

Oh yes, joyful news of Spring! Message perfectly delivered Chris - an enjoyable and heartening read. I always think of snowdrops as being the first flowers of spring, but this year has been strange and I already have flowering primroses, crocuses and lungwort - plus some purple flowers around my front door (not sure of name) but no snowdrops yet!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Helen. Sounds as though your primroses and crocus have given you the lift my snowdrops did for me. We are in the last throes of winter and on the cusp of spring :)

Chris

[Weeping willow]

Words of life as spring begins to arrive soon, lovely write ;-]

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Weeping willow. Looking forward to the arrival of spring. All good wishes.

Chris

[.]

A sign of growth a sign of life.
. So true. I really find it difficult to cope up with cold... I love spring... New growth indicates the sign of new life, after a halt of cold winter. Another poem laced with love, joy and hope.
. You really a master of creating joyous poems. ..

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Sima. Really appreciate your encouraging reviews. All good wishes.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

Yes, the dead of winter in February does make us long for spring. And yet, even in this dreary month, nature gives a foretelling of spring. Life persists, despite all evidence to the contrary.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John. The worse of the winter is over. Spring is just round the corner. The arrival of snowdrops always reminds me.

Chris

[Lorry]

You don't get many Persephone's to the pound these days Chris. Parthenope's either for that matter, which matters not, so...
You do know we get spring 6 to 8 weeks after you guys, right? Still don't need a calender, we just wake and say "it's not today day again". where we put off waking if at all possible.
Not that I'm jealous or anything like that. No, not at all.
So....

😊

[Chris Shaw]

I see you are still in the company of snow. I think we may have a little more ourselves this weekend, but I am hopeful that spring is just round the corner. Keep your long John's on Lorry. You will need them for a while yet. All good wishes and thank you for dropping by.

Chris

[DIVYA]

Those lovely flowers, huddled together till the adversity passed. They waited through it all. Never losing their aim of springing anew. Your words uplift me. They tell me that darkness and doom may cast their spell for a brief time but they'll always be overcome with life and hope! Thank you for this beautiful poem, dear Chris! As always, your imagery is breathtaking and your message is awesome!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear DIVYA. Your reviews are always so encouraging. Your poetry an inspiration and we are lucky to have you here on this forum.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

This poem intimates hope, but it also is a reminder that we humans cannot "huddle close"
right now...we huddle alone.

and the branches just seem barer....

[Chris Shaw]

It has been a long hard winter which is not over yet. Yes, the flowers may huddle for warmth, but we are not yet in the position to do that. Hopefully it won't to too long before we can hug our friends and family again. Many thanks Jacob for checking in.

Chris

[lightsong]

That's exactly what your beloved sister should be reading now, and what a coincidence that today in my way back home I noticed that some trees began to bloom and it brought a tear to my eye, how beautiful to see in cold the blossoming trees, this is the speciality of February. Beautiful dear Chirs, magically beautiful...

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear lightsong. Your blossoming trees in February cold, have brought you the same delight that the snowdrops did for me. We are on the cusp of spring and I am thankful for that.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

Snowdrops , how lovely Chris... brave little flowers that bring such joy and hope of a beautiful spring to follow.
Nothing stops Mother Nature :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Stella. They are such a delight when you find them. Pretty little things aren't they?
read moreThank you Stella. They are such a delight when you find them. Pretty little things aren't they?

Chris