Lipstick Kisses

Pope John smiles down
from the second shelf of
an old Welsh dresser
covered in a smooth layer
of London dust

a Vatican unvisited
a souvenir of a holiday
not taken

you might be mistaken
thinking that the shadows
from blackened brickwork
of tall suffocating arches
in the back yard
would blot out all light

inside Freda spreads
her own brand of sunshine
illuminating the eyes of
her granddaughter
waiting for lipstick
kisses to be planted
forever

Reviews

[willweb]

Love this scene from your past (I assume) and the memories we keep. Funny how certain things stick out to us, there were probably 20 more different trinkets, etc scattered about but the photo of the Pope is what stands out in your mind, oh and the lipstick kisses. Really fun Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

You are right will. The dresser was packed with stuff, but the souvenirs of the Pope are memorable. Not that I am a Catholic. The lipstick kisses, even more memorable. Thanks for your review. Pleased to see you always.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

your title hooked me, Chris! but the poem held me .. i think it is poignant .. nostalgic and a little melancholy ... memories that capture vivid pictures of certain things ... the Grams and her little Granddaughter who knows those kisses as better than anything .. such a blessed thing says i .. i am Catholic and pictures of the Pope are stand out in the scene .. and the dust .. well done indeed ... just those two create the moment behind the characters .. too cool ma'am!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mr E. My paternal Grandparents home. Those lipstick kisses, never forgotten. Salt of the earth Londoners. How I miss them. And Grandad, he gifted me poetry. How great a gift that has been:)

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

i think you are making fine use of that gift Chris ...

[Neville]

it seems we both have a thing about arcs n arches .. and yes, I aint talking about Noah .. it still is, just as I remembered .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Aw…… you know how to turn a flat line into something more positive dontcha just. 😊

[Andrew John]

I wonder if I ever had a lipstick mark on my cheek. Probably. This is a nice read, Chris, as with all your material.

[Chris Shaw]

Aw, I feel sure that some dame in your lifetime must have planted a smacker on your cheek. Perhaps one of those lovely aunts you treasure in memory. Thank you Andrew for stopping by.

Chris

[Soren]

What an image created here Chris, it is as if I were there.
"a Vatican unvisited
a souvenir of a holiday
not taken"
is probably my favorite line evoking a deeper image of this person. Wonderful

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much friend. I do try hard with the imagery. Pleased you appreciate that. Have a good day.

Chris

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Those sweetest kisses from the lips of a child. May they all leave their marks indelible on our souls. I enjoyed the read.

[Chris Shaw]

My Nan’s kisses would stain my cheeks Fabian. Red lipstick imprints. A bit of a nostalgia trip here. Thanks for your thoughts. So special she was.

Chris

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I was never kissed by my grandmother that I recall. She was a sweet old lady though. Little boys don't really want to be kissed by anyone. I was more into catching wild animals, lizards, frogs, snakes etc. ;)

[Chris Shaw]

You are right about little boys. Jahkai who is my four year old grandson legs it if he thinks his Nan is about to give him a lipstick smacker:) We hi five :)

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful work. Sharp and vivid imagery.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Thomas. I appreciate you.

Chris

[Mauricio Montoya]

Chris poem is deep not only art with Frieda but names, history and event's ring with imagery in every word. So I do wonder what will happen when its get dark ? Or will we find that light again, that's what I saw as i read, thank you for sharing your word's ,

[Chris Shaw]

It was a house in shadow Mauricio but there was lots of sunlight inside. Thus was my Nan with her lipstick kisses. Thank you my friend.

Chris

[Mauricio Montoya]

I got it wrong now I'm wiping the lipstick from my cheek,lol thank you.

[Chris Shaw]

Ha ha. You see what you see . That’s ok with me dear friend 😀

[Stella Armour]

Oh bless , i had forgotten about lipstick kisses, not that i ever had a grandma to plant any.
It doesn't matter about blackened walls whether it was from soot or the blitz , the love was inside the home not outside ....
A lovely memory you have shared with us .... thank you :)

[Chris Shaw]

Lots of love in that London home Stella. Those lipstick kisses were Coty ones and stained my cheeks. Loved my Nan so much. Thank you my friend. Have a happy Thursday.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

ah, you were so lucky i would love to have known my grandparents and had some memories :)

[Chris Shaw]

I knew all four of mine. They lived four doors apart :) Very lucky me.

[Poetic Beauty]

Dust collecting on a dresser that seems to not have been used for quite some time. I love the details you added in this poem

[Chris Shaw]

An old poem out for an airing PB. The dust of memories of my grandparents London home. A nostalgic trip into lives long gone. I post old poems when I have nothing new to post. I have four on the go, but will not publish until they are perfected. Many thanks for visiting my grandparents. How I loved those lipstick kisses.

Chris

[Poetic Beauty]

There is nothing wrong with older poems. The feeling and sentiment is there even long after they are written and still beautiful with their memories they hold.

[Chris Shaw]

I agree with you. I have many poems from years ago which have not been seen by current poets on wc. I often delve into my archives.

[Poetic Beauty]

I have an array of ones I haven’t posted some need reworked because I was younger and didn’t quite know what I was doing back then lol

[hiren]

Hi Chris, this is jessy, i cam see the forehead, pointed nose, the hair style, his hairless hand, what on earth cant figure it out is the mole or the rash, its hurting why he isnt self protective. Trusting too much is consuming ethanol which is flammable. I love you i missed you bruh is stopping me to not to come to the gate. When are you calling me cant even afford biryani for beloved dad. But this weekend definitely offer him, i know he is calling me there to see him. He made me to have lunch when he was leaving us. I wanted to see him thought why i was so scared to see him, i should have talked to him one more time. But he lived like a king and had a well deserved respectful last 45 mins of Bhairavi yathana. The last minutes of all previous karma he had got rid off and a fresh soul has been in heaven the best place.

Missing you
Want to se you.
Jessy jacob
A purple heart.


I usually wonder why my aunt, uncles left their bodies did called me feeling their pain at the last minute. My one uncle hit with accident was trying to leave us but i called him back, but Appa was feeling pleasant as if he felt he had finished all his responsibilities, and i was happy with him not angry at all. He has got the best place as honey said. People missed should be felt as happy moments not with sad, as it hurts them more but feeling sad is being insecured, bhaiyya is there i am there. And we are all fine.

One more thing, dont worrg men do watch i know he there around to protect me. I was just happened to see basement floor all cubicles empty. I just figured it out how big it was he standing and looking at people with his reading glasses. I want to relive his dreams his oil refinery bless me Amma. And we all can do together.

Take care of yourself.
-jessy.

[Chris Shaw]

Jessy. I unblocked you. Please don’t plaster my page with so many comments. Take care 🌹

[hiren]

Ok will make sure.