Unwellness In Railway View

Unwellness in Railway View
(An Addingham poem)

It was not just the flickering ember
that lit the way to one’s damp musty bed
nor sash cord window panes I remember
stamped with willow patterns of frosty shred,
but the vile grotesque shadows that followed
created on walls of chalk distemper
that drove along shivers standing hair on head.
Bereft of childhood in those haunting days
where tiny feet scurried yet feared to tread
on staid stone slabs that lay on earthen floor
caused an array of warped winter ailments
a Wharfedale river cough a throaty caw.
But apparitions they ne’er go away
serves up the moment every single day.

     © Harry J Horsman 2021

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 1/21/2021 12:07:00 PM
hey, Harry, I keep clicking on your recent poems and I think I am all caught up. probably on the older ones too. haha! Hope you are having a great day!
Login to Reply
Date: 1/18/2021 1:45:00 PM
Walls of chalk distemper Wonderwall
Login to Reply
Date: 1/8/2021 5:21:00 PM
Shadows on the walls are frightening, in days of old it must have scary for the kids apart from all they had to put up with. No hot running water, tin baths, no central heating, lino on the floors, I remember some of all this although when I was young the days of no electricity were over. Enjoyed the read Harry ~ Belle
Login to Reply
Date: 1/5/2021 6:37:00 PM
Yeah, I still wonder what was i saw back then when i was 8years old. Still buckles me and gives me chills...LOL! Awesome write, Harry :)
Login to Reply
Date: 1/5/2021 4:38:00 AM
Yes, times were worse several generations back. I don't know how some families made it but they did. Sometimes the man of the house drank or gambled or both all his funds away. Sometimes there were so many children. Sometimes there was abuse. It had to be hard lives for so many poverty ridden people. Thanks for the visit to my page. Sara
Login to Reply
Date: 1/4/2021 6:56:00 AM
An excellent sonnet, Harry. I can 'feel' the conditions in which people lived back then. I think it was about 5 or 6 years ago that you had another very expressive poem inspired by Addingham. ~ Wishing you all the best for 2021. // paul
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 1/4/2021 7:03:00 AM
I've been back looking for the poem which I mentioned above, but can't find it; must have read it somewhere else. Regards // paul
Date: 1/4/2021 5:58:00 AM
Makes me think of walking home alone when I was a kid. All the trees looked like they were reaching for me. Another masterful piece my friend.
Login to Reply
Date: 1/4/2021 4:18:00 AM
Wow! I used to watch Dark Shadows. Flickering embers, willow patterns of frosty shred, a throaty caw. Haunting indeed! Love it, Harry!
Login to Reply
Date: 1/3/2021 5:50:00 PM
Like Michael down here, I too envisioned a haunted or miserable soul like from Grapes of Wrath. this is a very nicely composed sonnet, my friend. Did I wish you happy new years yet? I sure do hope it will be better than last year.
Login to Reply
Date: 1/3/2021 7:05:00 AM
This is powerful and so well written Harry. The memory of apparitions, stands out to me. A poem that calls to be re-read. Excellent :)
Login to Reply
Date: 1/3/2021 5:40:00 AM
A lovely sonnet. So full of inspiration in your writing... God B L E S S you
Login to Reply
Date: 1/2/2021 10:57:00 PM
Beautiful write, with just about the right amount of alliteration. The emotion is so vivid here. Wishing you a Happy New Year.
Login to Reply
Date: 1/2/2021 9:10:00 PM
Harry a time an era that some poor souls faced. When I read this I thought of the movie with Henry Fonda, The Grapes Of Wrath. It was a hard life surrounded by a dust and no hope for hungry families struggling. Perfect words you have penned here my friend...
Login to Reply
Date: 1/2/2021 6:02:00 PM
WoW! This brings up visions of poverty stricken families living in hard environments and fathers working long hours for little pay. Cold shanties for a home with little to keep out the cold. A sad picture. Well written though with excellent imagery. God Bless, JB Sorry I've been gone so long. Was feeling ill and dizzy spells and nausea for some time. Finally the pain was so great I called in sick. Ended up in E.R. with ruptured appendix. Two weeks in hospital. Now home and getting stronger.
Login to Reply
Date: 1/2/2021 6:53:00 AM
Great imagery you created with details of un-wellness in your hues. Well done, Harry. Wishing you the very best in 2021.
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter