Measure on measure

The Christmas tree's up
and it's twinkling there
under the window
good spirit to share
It's welcoming glow
is a comforting sight
when I leave in the morning
and return home at night

Rich and Notable

What’s notable, that I would find.
I ditch the fake that thinks it’s rich,
ignore the wizard with his witch,
resist a compromising mind
that fantasizes till it’s blind.
Not one of us walks here alone.
We see enough what’s dimly shown.
With fruit maturing on the way
we hear and follow so we may
know fully as we’re fully known.

---

Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “rich” to be used in a B line for this week’s challenge. Eugenia offers the word “notable” for this week’s Thursday prompt. I am thinking of 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Fickle weather

Fickle this weather
this grey time of year
one day it is icy
the next day it's clear
almost quite balmy
first thing today
took me by surprise
after chill yesterday
So I'm never quite sure
if long johns I'll need
or a raincoat or shorts
and sunshades indeed

A Pandemic Worst Practices and Declaring War on Fauci Limerick 1.1

There are no problems that “ignore it and maybe it will go away” won’t make worse, especially health problems.

Icing Days

First hard frost I've seen this year
with icing on the cars
Jack Frost has called here overnight
beneath the twinkling stars
and painted white all that he sees
on windows and on grass
for wonder come the break of day
when shivering humans pass

One IV

4 of 12 in the Jemverse ’12 months V’ series

First of December
the wreaths are all made
Christmas cushions are out
and November it fades
Tonight all our offspring
will in the attic find things
to adorn, decorate
as the house around sings
I'll dust off the CDs
not played for a year
and join with loud voice
to sing and bring cheer

Season songs

Golden my streets
but it won't be for long
for though sweet are my words
quite short is my song
They look lovely right now
when the sunshine is bright
but lacklustre in rain
and leaden at night

And as winter creeps in
my songs peter out
for I run out of lyrics
with gusto to shout
and my golden turns grey
as the music it dies
for instead of the carpet
hard frost often lies

Garden Fade

I stole some summer's magic
kept it back a while to hold
to rekindle momentarily at least
these days when fades the gold

All too soon I'll be forgotten
as lacklustre my waste is laid
and the sun will stay hidden
til come the winters' fade

Missing Me

I miss you

she said

Do you miss you too?

Yes, I miss me

I said

I miss those walks we had

at the orchard’s edge

philosophical conversation

keeping pace with our breath

Home Alone

Today I'm here and home alone
'Cos Harry Potter's not my thing
at least not live performance
with encouragement to sing

'Cos that's where all my family
have gone today save me
swanning off to London
so I have the day quite free

Yes, there will be music
a no brainer there, and games
and perhaps a little snooze
as the forecast is for rain

Our field

So many times
we've both walked this field
with our little dog, Obi
in the heart of the Weald
Just north of Steyning
on the Partridge Green road
it's been here our haven
and many times strode

Each time we come here
something different we see
whilst Obi does running
quite safe and quite free
and we never grow weary
despite knowing it well
as it's wholesome and lovely
which these words I think tell

Stuff and Compassion

Compassion is forgiving stuff.
It’s powerful if one is meek
and raises up the burdened weak.
Not one of us can get enough.

Though waves are high when storms are rough,
though skies show off their grays,
the Lord’s aware of all our ways
so may we stay compassionate
and offer worship. Think of it:
We have the privilege now to praise.

Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “stuff” to be used in an A-rhyme of a décima having rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC for this week’s challenge. Eugenia offers the word “compassion” for this week’s prompt.

The whole I am

Some weeks you just need one
to recharge your soul
for relaxation and rest
and to get you back whole
For when you keep going
bits drop off and fall
and though gradual a process
you're not quite your all

The treasure party

Enriched I am carried
as if on a cloud
to this place of fulfilment
my head duly bowed
For it is with all honour
and privilege here
that I share in this glory
at this time of year

A Spin The Dreidel Limerick 1.1

This is one of my favorite limericks and I am happy to recycle it today. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays to all.

Exuberance

And so into the woodland trail
for an exuberance of gold
this treasure of abundance
now the year is getting old

For times like these I live and breathe
and even though it's chill
my winter coat and long johns
will ensure I catch no ill

Fare more beside this treasure trail
quite free there to partake
is something quite essential
at this time of year to make

Part of the picture

In the gallery a sculpture
made of mirrors so we there
took a picture in position
so with it we all could share
Placed us in the location
that we love above the rest
for a day out in our happy place
that really is the best

A revitalisation of cheer

Hiding in long shadows
of a small gig still I stood
listening to the music
but wishing that I could
find there the enjoyment
that my friends and others there
clearly understood as in
the moment there they shared

Yet despite the disappointment
in the long shadows here with me
a certain feeling lingered
that I knew with certainty
Said I was meant to be here
as this venue and this place
was testament and evidence
of promise born from grace

Happy Place

First time to London
in two years or more
all Crouchers together
for good times galore
So this morning we all
are up with the lark
for coffee and toast
before we embark

We're heading for South Bank
Tate Modern no less
as we've all missed the vibe
we will freely confess
The company jocund
the excitement complete
we can barely contain
and keep still in our seat

Of mornings and writers

In this still hour of darkness
before morning's begun
when the night time remains
with mere vestige of sun
you'd be forgiven for thinking
it just wouldn't come
and that darkness forever
would be the deal done
But if you did you would always
miss out on the fun
for this time of day
is a long way from glum

Shadows

The shadows cast on Plato’s cave
suggested there’s a source of light.
The Gnostic orderings of night
all lacked the means by which to save,
but that’s just what we would get right
since time is short before the grave.

Eugenia offers the prompt “shadows” for this week’s Thursday Challenge.

Days Gone

In Regency Square
where once stood the Pier
Victorian splendour
still evident here
but time has moved on
and the 360 high
is now the feature
high up in the sky

Yet standing here now
the future I hold
is recalling the heyday
('cos yes, I'm that old)
when the West Pier still stood
as a visual feast
besting the new one
a mile to the east

Learn

Through cold gray clouds the sun still beams
on soundless white and frequent fear.
That was a wintry time of year
when what was bad went to extremes.

Till Judgment comes demonic schemes
of wickedness rehearse their coup,
but there’s still time. May hearts renew,
return, repent, refrain and learn
to let the Spirit help discern
the flaws in stuff we thought was true.

---

Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “learn” to be used in a D-line of a décima having rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC for this week’s challenge.

Treasures

On the table outside
are memories we treasure
rocks and pebbles from Dorset
hold joy beyond measure

Some fossils, all lovely
some plain and some not
we love every one
and are pleased with the lot

And they're out there for purpose
to get wet in the rain
for then we can see them
as we found them again

SDW (South Downs Way)

The South Downs Way
my favourite trail
so as moments come
I'll oft regale
the pleasure I derive from this
just walking here
my perfect bliss

Jack and Jill

On the South Downs
high, top the hill
we walked around
the Jack and Jill
two windmills there
and standing still
though long time now
since flour to mill

The view gave all 
the eyes to fill
where we took stock
of our free will
November yet
not really chill
we wandered freely
with no ill

No word to complain

Sat with no surrender
as waves washed over me
cocooned here in sound
in my own symphony
Cancelling all externals
AirPod Pros they do their thing
and as spine tingles I am lost
to words I softly sing

This is a beautiful moment
dreamlike I drift away
lost as music envelopes me
here at the end of day
And if this is like a heaven
this moment, this refrain
in an element I will be
with no word to complain

The found to the seeker

I looked and I found
the word that was lost
and despite everything
it was worth all the cost
for this word is the essence
the 'je ne sais quoi'
the one with a nod
you will say an 'aha'
and with kindred spirit
agree here with me
the word was worth finding
quite wholeheartedly