Turning the Clock Back

sometimes i return to that cold

back bedroom on the first floor of

my grandparent's old terraced home

where my legs fidget in bed

as my younger sister dreams

soundly beneath rose candlewick

while i count on my abacus fingers

tube trains as they rattle along

electric rails on top of tall arches

where brickwork is blackened by

smog in the shade of the oldest tree

in a postage stamp garden

flooding the room with false light

shaking the sash windows

twitching the jaundiced net curtains

out of their slumber while i try

my hardest to fall like Alice  down

the rabbit hole into wonderland

and eventually ..........into sleep

Reviews

[Neville]

one does not need an imagination to find oneself transported somehow to that cold back bedroom on the first floor of some old terraced house .. had you not mentioned your grandparents though, I could have sworn it was 24 spencer bridge Rd .. and my younger brother beneath the rose candlewick ..

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

The bedroom may have been cold but the memories couldn't have been warmer. A comfort zone. Thank you Neville. Pleased you could relate and in a happy way.

Chris

[Lydia Shutter]

Oh, I loved this one, Chris. Remembering how things were when you were a child...in your grandparents' home. The images are so clear. Ah, to go to sleep like we did back then. If only. This one is filled with sweet reminiscing. Thank you for sharing with us. Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Glad you enjoyed this piece of nostalgia Lydi**. I am working on a few at the moment:) Pleased you stopped by to give your approval. Means alot.

Chris

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Chris, I truly love this! I love the last stanza, and eventually fall asleep! Perfect imagery!

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts Kathy. Pleased you checked in.

Chris

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

You are welcome!

[KAREN]

Bravo, Chris, this has great imagery. I love the beautiful memories that unfold in the poetic piece!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Karen for reading this memory. Pleased you enjoyed the read.

Chris

[KAREN]

You're welcome!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I really like your strong evocative imagery, particularly, "jaundiced net curtains" but the entirety is filled with wonderful romantic nostalgia. I applaud this great write. I enjoyed.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fabian. Pleased you like this nostalgic write. You know, I can still hear the rattle of those trains on the track. All good wishes.

Chris

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

"twitching the jaundiced net curtains
out of their slumber while i try
my hardest to fall like Alice down
the rabbit hole into wonderland"
Dear Chris, you are truly the young Alice (my favorite!) in the beautiful, lyrical words of this poetic memory. I too fell asleep to the lights and sounds of above-ground trains as a child. You brought back so many memories to me and I thank you for them. Smiling like the Cheshire cat here...:))

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Annette, so delighted that you could relate to this memory :) I can still hear the rattle of those trains on track in the corridors of my mind so many years later :) Thank you for your lovely review.

Chris

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Oooh I love this
This is so descriptive Chris
I felt the light in your room and could hear the trains
Beautiful piece x
Hope you well

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Julie. Pleased you enjoyed this trip into the past. I can still hear the rattle of those trains you know, all these years later :) All good with me. Hope the same for you x

[Patricia]

Jaundiced net curtains…love that! Postage stamp garden…great line… third stanza is terrific, great imagery, very good piece of writing of something so simple or I should say something so difficult as sleep ;)

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased you enjoyed this memory Patricia. Even then I found it difficult to sleep:) Some things don't change. Thanks for stopping by.

Chris

[Weeping willow]

Beautifully expressed piece with many words that flow like a dream. ;-}

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your lovely review Weeping willow. Pleased you enjoyed this memory of mine.
read moreThank you for your lovely review Weeping willow. Pleased you enjoyed this memory of mine.

Chris

[Lisasview]

Good morning Chris,
Childhood holds such a treasure for amazing poetry... and, yours is just that. I love the line about the postage stamp garden...so easy to see that small garden... and your sister sleeping...and you fidgeting in bed...so like my experience..and so I relate.
Lisa

[Chris Shaw]

Your review Lisa is so encouraging. Pleased that you could relate. Thank you my friend.

read moreYour review Lisa is so encouraging. Pleased that you could relate. Thank you my friend.

Chris

[Miss Sharon]

Beautifully written Chris! It brought back memories for me of going to Grandmas house and sleeping on that huge bed that seemed to be ten feet tall. You are gifted in imagery. ~Sharon

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Sharon. Pleased my memory reminded you of your childhood too. So pleased you stopped by.read moreThank you Sharon. Pleased my memory reminded you of your childhood too. So pleased you stopped by.

Chris