In Stanmer Woods

In Stanmer Woods the trees stand tall
and sheltered down below
I stand as if on tippy-toe
as I’m quietly in the know
For up above the wind blows free
with frigid winter blast
yet down upon the bracken floor
there’s stillness here to last

The Curvature of Water

And here, in the kingdom of clouds,
vast continents of mist
dwarf the mountains,
lumber lightly
in from the ocean,
float improbably, silently.
They sometimes, when the air is cold,
leak acres of crystal
in the high wilderness of fir and grizzly,
burying the trees and crags of the
inaccessible mystery in white.

And here, over the empire of emeralds,
they sweep and swell and
break apart and spill out
mighty rivers and silver lakes,
wash the air clean and
sift down through my willow tree,
bit by drop, sink from sight and
hurry to refill the ocean.

Meaning

time comes with a lid
no handles to hold
the night was a thief
dark thumbs to wear
kept dreams to count
love without doors
leaves but feathers
till days break aloud
to let in theives
for their tall times

you are the wall
you are the mother
you are the duck
you are the music
you are the night
you are the sound
you are the silence

Of Beacons and Mud

Went for a walk for a birthday
All of us met at the Star
heading off to the Beacon
via Falmer so not all that far
Up through the woods over Stanmer
frolicking under the trees
rained a lot here so the mud was
quite frequently up to our knees

Respite

A few days of respite
every so often
for a recharge is all that I need
And fresh from the resting
I’m ready to go
revitalised and up to speed

Daffodils

Yellow and gorgeous
they gleam from the vase
on the table, a nod to the Spring
Shouting a welcome
they want us to dance
and lift up our voices and sing

Moon of the moment

Crescent moon up in the blue
bright shining in the sky
on a brittle winter morning
really caught my eye

Ethereal there through the trees
daylight just a whisper
I stood and watched her for a while
just in case I missed her

A “Best Advice To A New Incoming College Freshman” Limerick

My Alma Mater recently asked it’s alum what would be the best advice they could give an incoming freshman student. Of course, they were asking for real, serious and valuable advice. I had some of that for them – EMBRACE THE ADVENTURE. College will be a big part of the story of your life. Make it a story that you love to tell.

All them waves

Constant coming
all them waves
turning on a whim
Sometimes I will
shed a tear
and sometimes
I will grin

Constant coming
all them waves
many friends are here
Sometimes I will
simply watch
and sometimes
I will cheer

Weekends II

So another week passes
and reaches its end
with two days of rest
waiting there like a friend
Arms open wide with
a smile on its face
it welcomes you in
and slows down the pace
Makes you a coffee
or a hot cup of tea
relaxing as always
and totally free

Of shillings and treasure

I watched the shilling spinning
it was mine in no small measure
Enough to buy two Matchbox cars
to hold and keep and treasure
The fingers twisted blithely
as they caught and spun again
but I saw no abandon
found no one there to blame

19 February 1974

The knock at the door
I remember it well
though forty-six years have now passed
The vicar right there
with something to share
for a slap in the face that would last

It was anger I felt
with a fist in the air
that my father had left in that way
And I heard not a sound
from that hole in the ground
as I stood on that February day

In pictures

I’ve been looking through my pictures
as I do from time to time
at photos I have taken
in the sunshine when it’s fine
others taken in the rain
or when walking by the sea
or up there on the Sussex hills
all precious here to me

-16.02.20_12:44-

It’s a choice I think about

As it calls to me

Thoughts of walking

My brother sent a text
reminding me to book
some dates in May when
we’ll take another look
and with a best foot forward
and packs and beating heart
we’ll head into the Sussex hills
another walk to start

Rest Days

Sometimes days just don’t quite begin
and befuddled it’s usually best
to hand in the towel and lay down the pen
put one’s feet up and have a good rest

The Square Tower

Where once King Henry the Eighth resided
overlooking the Solent right there
In Portsmouth old city on the sea wall
still stands the Tower of Square

Self love

Happy Valentine’s Day to all the lovelies. Love can happen anywhere, anytime with anyone but it always starts with you. Self-love is the best way to live.

A warm and a tight hug 

can do wonders I have heard

It can lick and suck all your pain

for those who have eternally suffered

It’s that magic potion

that elixir

that have worked wonders 

42 Valentines

Forty-two and counting
Valentines I’ve sent
every one of them sincere
and full of sentiment
Forty-two to the same love
my soulmate true and through
a love that’s shared and deepened
the more years we accrue
Forty-two with every word
each February fourteen passing
meant and sealed with promise
for a love that’s everlasting

Frost

There’s a frost on the roof
at the end of the garden
as the winter clings on
for more months, beg your pardon
But I’ve had enough of
this cold stuff right now
and I long for the feel
of warm sun on my brow

Bread

We found the bread maker
under the stairs
took flour, some salt and some yeast
selected the programme
that suited us best
and awaited the outcome to feast

Tuesday

And when Monday was finished
with Tuesday begun
the February sunshine arrived
Still weak with the winter
bereft yet of warmth
at least it could say that it tried

Awakening

Still dark when I wake
to stumble from slumber
the light yet a good while away
Cold water to waken
from dreams I’d mistaken
for what was the start of the day

Easy Reach

I found a stone and threw it
far out into the sea
watched it splash and disappear
here quite contentedly
For this haven is my solace
and fortunate am I
to have a beach to come to
not far from home, close by

Rearranging

Every so often my soulmate and me
feel like a bit of a change
So oft with a plan
we’ll move things around
and the furniture we’ll rearrange

The Bridge Hotel

Down the back steps is a courtyard
overlooking city walls
high above the valley
from where the Tyne it calls
Adjacent to High Level Bridge
its namesake for to trace
The Bridge Hotel in Newcastle
quite special to this place

Questions That Come With Age

The clock… relentless.
What’s my allotment going to be?
How to make the best of it?
How to keep dignity,
avoid a failure of imagination,
avoid self-pity….

“Savor each moment…”
Yes, well that’s a cliché.
I know what’s coming,
What I’ve lost for good.
The trick is to
Savor these, too,
With a little grace.

No lies in the mirror.
No false smiles.
No regrets.
No cruelties.
Kindnesses given
with no expectations.

There are enough
bitter herbs around.
But

One surprise smile is enough
to recharge a whole day.
Thank you, darlin’

Owning the cone

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
was feeling a bit glum
He had to wear the ‘cone of shame’
for stitches in his bum
It wasn’t very comfortable
and he wasn’t all that sure
why he was made to wear it
and what it all was for