Keep A Lid On It

one day I too
may be confined in
this oak wood chest of
ancestral treasure

where the sepia
rests with dust motes
and old letters reveal
at times what we prefer
to conceal

i ponder on
items you may keep
of mine worth the
saving

perhaps the court orders
stamped and sealed
promises of a path ahead
for a settled future
for three entrusted
to our care

or maybe a collection
of my better poems will
find their way in notebooks
thumbed and dog eared
for perusal

though i sincerely hope
you do not feel that grief
that family ghosts bestow
on me when I open
the lid on yesterdays

to ride the waves
of loss rolling in to shore
on the back of memories

Reviews

[Ruby Heggie (PB Jacobs)]

I used to have a little puss n boots treasure chest I bought from a hobby store. I really liked it, as I was into it. I can kind of relate to your content. Yup. I only dug in my treasure chest once in a blue moon. It's amazing how much stuff people stash.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for stopping by to leave your thoughts. Very much appreciated.

Chris

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

I really like this. The truth will always come out like the sun a mrlt lies likee it was ice.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Dale. You are appreciated. Have a good Saturday.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

upon my demise, what will I leave to thou.... in my special place...somethings I may not want to reveal. others you mat treasure....I will be neatly be filling my chest, don't fear that ghosts will pop out; I love the word choice..every line fits perfectly with the next... and it rolling with the waves for you to hold upon my death....all these memories...
Best, B

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Betty for your thoughtful response. Know how you are appreciated.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome Chris
Best to you, hope your weekend was pleasurable.
B

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Life is such that I believe we must take the good with the bad, the wistful memories that bring the sweetest sighs may also may bring tears of longing for things and times gone by. You present the image so well here in the format of a future tense but admit that these things are true. If it were not so, then love would be forfeit with memory but love abides. Shakespeare said love, "Bears it out, even to the edge of doom." But love goes much further and runs much deeper, beyond death and the grave down to the core of existence and creation. In the beginning was Love and Love was with God and Love was God. The Word is Love and Love is the Word and as the apostle John wrote, "God is Love" If we perceive that God is indestructible and eternal then we must confess that love is also. So, why do we weep? We weep for our doubt and the pain of separation, we weep for our loneliness and our grief at being alone. But we are not alone because Love is there, always there, with us, in us and without us, around us, waiting out even the hours prescribed for the universe. That is my belief. Gently, F.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fabian for sharing. It is always such a pleasure to have you call on my work.

read moreThank you Fabian for sharing. It is always such a pleasure to have you call on my work.

Chris

[willweb]

I believe many of us feel the same way, please don't feel so sad when I'm gone. Though in your world, you will always be with them in that oak wood chest and I know that in the future, they will look upon your photos and your poems with great pride and admiration. Wonderfully expressed Chris.

Oh...two new poems from you in the same day, like gifts waiting to be unwrapped...is it Christmas and I just didn't realize it? : )

[Chris Shaw]

You say such nice things will. Thank you muchly my friend.

Chris