Flood

this new year brings in
a swollen fat bellied Thames
unable to contain his over gorging
on plentiful winter rain
falling falling
relentless falling

he belched

his belly burst in a fit of pique
a stretch too far for fast flowing
manic moving water
as trouser belt gave way
spilling out on sandy park
and the fields of the flood plain

while river remained raging
seething and speeding downstream
flooded fields transformed
into a scene of wonderland
or should i say wonderlakes
where willow trees bathed
knee deep

so serene in mirror glass stillness
reflected cold blue sky
with a whisper of white cloud
as a multitude of majestic swans
glide by with geese in perfect
harmony

they have found their heaven
so have i as i stand nearby
watching as they swim towards
wooden fencing separating
the garden of mum and dad’s former
cardinal close home

what would they make of this
i thought
caught up in the reverie
of a one off occasion

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

Did not know the Thames was prone to flooding, though you do state this was a one off deal. Apparently, it was quite a deluge. Liked the image of the river's trouser belt giving way. I can recall such a sensation from the days when beer was my beverage of choice.

[Chris Shaw]

Floods all the time. This was the first occasion it crept up to the back garden of where my parents used to live. It was incredibly beautiful. In the distance, the weir and flooded houses. The ugly side. Thanks John.

Chris

[Masked writer]

Wow. Tis such a story we have here

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Masked writer. I appreciate your visit and your thoughts.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Chris, you certainly made the best of a potentially dangerous situation... and we are dsuffering here with floods and tornadoes, wind, snow, you name it!!! but you you able to see the serene in it, something wonderful about...certainly different.... swans floating on flooded waters....
Good for you!!!
Warmly, B

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Betty, yes I saw the serene, but I also ventured near the weir and saw the ugly. Two sides of the equation. Keep safe where you are. All the very best to you.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you Chris, est to you as well, take care
Warmly,B

[peter Charlesworth]

Chris your word turn the flooded land into wonderlakes with the geese and swans gliding through the flooded fields and no doubt ducks and wading birds in the shallow places

I also see the drowned farmland . how long will it be before they can work the land to produce food again or,
should the change what they produce . build dams to hold in the water and go for cress and rice or how long before the fish arrive in this water paradice

[Chris Shaw]

Yes Peter, there are two sides to every story. I saw the beauty, but I have yet to write about the ugly. Thank you so much for stopping by. All the best.

Chris

[peter Charlesworth]

Ah yes the devastation Flooded land > and homes
bridges damaged by the rushing water >eager to get to lower ground
Roads washed away
People unable to return for months . Everything GONE

[peter Charlesworth]

It is living where we do lakes and mountains
The lake expand onto flood planes and the wild life also (mostly migrants in winter {Geese))
The rivers expand out onto the roads . streets - houses & Shops - diverted traffic

we live on a hill - high above it all

[Chris Shaw]

We also live on a hill. My sis lives very close to the Thames in the flood plain area. She was lucky this time, but the flood waters were in the next street. Yes, the lakes and mountains where you live would suffer with constant rainfall. I guess you are probably used to it :(

[peter Charlesworth]

No actually we don't get too much rain here at home
We are overlooking the Irish Sea (139m Alt) and can see the clouds dividing > SW Scotland is 2o miles away across the Solway Firth (75 miles by road)
It was wetter where we lived in Huddersfield and at Redcar on the East coast

[Neville]

I understand only too well the damage that water can cause .. and although I have never personally suffered, my brother in Derbyshire has often fallen victim to the Tears of the Trent .. I also understand how otherworldly great flood plains can appear from a distance living so close to the magnificent Somerset Levels .. and although it may read like a contradiction n terms, I am glad you were able to capture such moments for those of us who sail by to enjoy .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Neville. Strange that an event which causes such destruction should offer a magnificent contrast. I was pleased to see the beauty. There was ugly too. Have a great day.

Chris