Life Cycles

when a bud bursts into leaf

in the green hope of spring

to grow all summer through

in a glorious canopy of shade

before autumn finds it falling

leafless in winter's bareness

we are reminded of cycles

and rejoice in their wonder

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

dearestChris... yesterday on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, I did some gardening in our large front yard with two rather large Maple trees that give us shade in the Summer. It seems like a short time since Spring appeared with tiny green buds of leaves on the bare branches. Now the leaves have matured and experienced the extremely Windy days and nights. The Red Cardinals fly around and sit on branches as though our yard is a Sanctuary with Feeders tucked here and there. Song Birds and Doves join in for the Jubilee ... while I tend to the flowers and plants. The cycles of Life are everywhere. Your poetry always brings me Contentment and Hope... as the World is struggling for Peace and Love. tenderly, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Pat thank you for giving this older poem an airing. Pleased to hear you did some gardening in your yard. I do love to garden myself. There is much to do at the moment. Our flowering baskets and 22 flowering pouches are all out in the garden. There should be an explosion of colour in June. I do like to hear how the birds are in your garden. Our avian friends are such a delight. Your Red Cardinals must give you much joy. Sending love across the pond.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

Flowering Baskets and 22 flowering Pouches … must be a Summer 🎶 Song. I know England loves their Roses. England is our Mother Land,,, even if there was a Tumultuous time in History, Shakespeare is shared and has a Reverence all it’s own, Happy Summer…. Pat

[Patricia]

very well done! all in a few lines the season blew by!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Patricia :)

[Patricia]

you're welcome :)

[lightsong]

again... your brilliance through painting nature is amazing dear Chris, as gentle as this flows as the powerful essence of life flows through it too, this rings like a song into my ears and heart. "when a bud bursts into leaf" I wish I wrote this :>

[Chris Shaw]

My dear friend, I owe you an apology for my tardy response. Thank you.

Chris

[lightsong]

No worries my dear Chris, nothing at all to be apologize for :>

[shadrach hah]

Hi Chris, yes, life's cycles, what wonderful imagery within your wondrous lines. As always, your gentle words make the heart sing. I love the content of this write. A joy to read, Chris. Have a wonderful Sunday. Hugs always....Mike.

[Chris Shaw]

A belated thank you. Better late than never.

Chris

[barleygirl]

Living in California, where seasons are not very noticeable, feeling the change of seasons isn't as pronounced as in your poem. But I do love the idea of cycles & the moon is what lights my way thru the lights and darks (((HUGS)))

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Margie. Dylan gave this old poem an airing. Pleased you found it too. Yes, the moon moves in cycles too and very visual with it. Have a great Sunday.

Chris

[Dylan Macadham]

Speaking of happiness, thanks Chris,
In a small sprouting bud you've captured, in your inimitable style and phrasing, the thought we are most ardent to suppress, that one day we too will fall from the tree. ...which makes your "Life Cycles" a healthy reminder to rejoice in the time we have :)

[Chris Shaw]

Oh Dylan, don't focus today on the inevitable. Instead kick your shoes off, feet up, black coffee and brandy. And think of how that new girlfriend is making you smile :) Thank you my friend fir checking in.

Chris

[Dylan Macadham]

MuchThanks for your PepTalk, pal. You're right, it's not too late, here, for a shot of breakfast brandy :) haha

[Fran Marie]

to everything turn, turn...
yes the season's show
life's cycle ...as with
nature we go through
the same process from
the cradle to the grave
I like the way you wrote
this..very well penned

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Fran Marie for checking this poem out. You are appreciated.

Chris

[Carina Baumert]

Beautiful, elegant, and simple. The kind of poetry I like, thank you for sharing this piece.

[Chris Shaw]

I'm so pleased you enjoyed the read Carina. Thank you so much. All good wishes.

Chris

[Samuel Dickens]

We certainly do rejoice in nature's ways. (I do, at least) While it's sad to see things fresh and new fade from the world, we can take comfort that they'll be reborn in a few months. It's not quite the same for us, however, and I think it takes a certain maturity to see our own demise as something beautiful. "Mother Nature, couldn't you just make an exception with us?" She smiles and nodes her head, "No, child, that would just mess up everything."

[Chris Shaw]

You are so right Sam about our own demise. We are not programmed to return. I am reasonably happy about that. When we lose our nearest and dearest it makes us truly realise that our time here is limited. In the mean time it's great to experience the seasons and especially spring each year with the rebirth of favourite flowers and shrubs. Thank you for reviewing this little poem. Have a great day.

Chris

[Remanence]

When I read this beautiful work, I thought about when I once planted a flowering pear tree, a variety named "Chanticleers". The temperature was absolutely blistering and as I dug the hole, the little 12' container tree gave me its cooling shade, and even before it was set in the hole, a robin flew up and perched in it. Our "Rooster" (so named because of Chanticleers) has set off the corner of my house for 10 years now and aside from still giving shade for my patio, it has given of itself to others each of those 10 years: its flower buds and blossoms to the Purple Finches as food when spring is late, cover for these finches when the Blackbirds are on a rant, and safe nesting for them. It is stunningly beautiful, as is "Life Cycles", which absolutely resonates with life, time and purpose, and with the wonder of it all.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Watercress for your lovely review. The story and name of your pear tree and robin reminded me of Geoffrey Chaucer, an old English poet and the Canterbury Tales. Yes, planting a tree, you reap so many benefits, beauty of the leaves in all seasons, beauty of the blossom, shade in summer, fruit, wildlife. It just keeps adding. So pleased you enjoyed my little poem. All good wishes.

Chris

[Remanence]

All of your writing is a joy . Your reflections are portraits of all the best of what our earth offers the discriminating eye and written so enjoyably to read. It is who you are. :)

[Chris Shaw]

You are very kind :)