Tri-haiku XXXI – Daffodil Laughter

A vibrant greeting
bursting in Springtime yellow
sunshine to my day

A splash of colour
to the monotone palette
of winter greyness

Daffodil laughter
brightens up most any day
Truly infectious

The tree-monster’s tail

The tree-monster’s tail
stuck out of the ground
and though it was still
I made little sound
For there was no telling
and never a clue
what it would decide
and choose when to do

Social distance birthdays

It was murky on the Dyke today
and you could not see far
which really was a pity as
the view’s spectacular

You’ll have to take my word for that
because the picture shows you nowt
of what Sussex has to offer
and what the Weald is all about

Contentment in an Englishman’s castle

Yes I’m an Englishman and it is said
that his home is his castle indeed
And I do declare
and here freely share
that I’m happy to stand by that creed

Sheep convention

The sheep had a convention
in the upper field today
I suspect grass was the subject
or some munching anyway
And there were clearly some ringleaders
as they moved around a lot
their noses buried in the grass
from spot to luscious spot

Jab

Got the text on Monday morning
best news I have had
as today in just a little while
I’ll have had the job
And yes, we’ll still be careful
but if you need a thing
to put a smile upon your face
and give you cause to sing
Then this is up there at the top
of all the things to give
Something truly wonderful
allowing all to live

For Pops

Look at me now Pops, I’m an older man now
I’m past sixty, the years have flown by
That slap in the face
has long turned to grace
yet still on this day I will cry

Nineteenth of February nineteen seventy-four
etched in my mind for all time
The day that you left
leaving family bereft
although all these years later we’re fine

I ran and I ran

There was ice in my field
round the tree in the middle
most of it solid
but some of it brittle
But I didn’t mind ‘cos
the ground it was firm
so my paws found their grip
with less squither and squirm
And I ran and I ran
my ears all at random
exploring three acres
in sheer joy abandon

Thirty-four

On a February day
thirty-four years ago
I remember quite well
the remains of the snow
as on a bright morning
I walked by the sea
so proud of the fact
of no longer ‘to be’
But actually now
a father at last
all those long months of waiting
now finally past
For there on that day
to Sally and me
the gift of a daughter
with our Emily

Summer to share

The warmth on my shoulder
as I sit here and write
is really quite lovely
in this winter sunlight
It feels just like summer
and if I close my eyes
I can see myself there
with no little surprise

Holiday VI

Five days off, I can scarce believe it
it’s been a tough few weeks
The hours I’ve worked
have been berserk
few troughs but many peaks

Relaxation guaranteed
the most I’ll make of this
There’ll be some sounds
and walks with hounds
in five days of pure bliss

Forty-three Valentines

Forty-three valentines I have now sent
to my one true love every year
Our love it grows stronger
and may it live longer
I trust as I hold her so dear

And we have been wed forty-two of those years
Soulmates, we two are entwined
So here now from me
here is forty-three
Will you please be my Valentine?

Magical III

It’s magical this snow-cast light
the icing sugar dust
as slowly things are covered
and capture it I must

Iron-chill the Northern blast
makes minus five feel raw
yet still the child within me yearns
for snow on snow and more

Househound here the nation wanes
to bleak midwinter flow
But doesn’t really mind because
there’s nowhere else to go

Snow n me

It wasn’t very nice
in my field this week you know
Cos my paws felt very cold
in some white stuff they call snow

I had a double layer
(my red jumper and a coat)
but my paws still feel the cold
(I’m just saying, make a note)

Virtual beers

From Liverpool to Shoreham
quite a distance any day
but in these days of lockdown
seems a million miles away
But that distance is diminished
at a stroke with all good cheer
when we friends WhatsApp together
to share a virtual beer

Sussex snows

I said no snow
in Sussex fell
but spoke too soon
(how could I tell)?
the temperature
would fall so quick
and the isobars
take such a dip
allowing white stuff
here to fall
at beckon to
the winter’s call

Saving Grace

Slowly dusk descended
and it got really hard to see
but the birdsong in the evening sky
was great for Sal and me

And though we’ve said it here before
we really love this place
and though a broken record-like
it is our saving grace

Whimsy rests

And similar these late-night hours
the silence out there now
with solar-captured radiance
lighting there the bough
My window looks down to this scene
as to slumber most resign
yet for a moment whimsy rests
upon this view sublime

For the weekend, a sedoka II

Weekend sedoka
And as the paint quickly dries
all can see as it’s hung high
capturing content
as in relaxation here
I breathe deep and simply am

For the weekend, a sedoka I

Weekend sedoka
Six lines to paint a picture
with bold stroke and bright colour
capturing content
as with privilege I come
and with gusto seize the day

The quietning time

These early mornings
I’ll attest
are good for me
the very best
The gentle rain
just after dawn
with still the air
of new day born
And solitude
where here about
a whisper sounds
just like a shout
I relish this
the quietning time
as it is almost
wholly mine

No snow Sussex

In Yorkshire it was snowing
I heard online today
whereas down south in Sussex
it was simply dull and grey
In fact I can’t remember
the last time snow I saw
must have been some years ago
before a winter’s thaw

New tree

Obi found a little tree
over by the fence
and as it had gone unnoticed
we all paid recompense
Obi ran around a bit
as we thought how nice it was
to plant a new tree in this place
for sustenance because
it really is a lovely field
so what could be a better way
to celebrate it being here
than this new tree today

Music days III

I sat and listened to music as the day bled away
a can of beer at my side
and closing my eyes
it was no surprise
I felt joy with those songs as I cried

For my music will do that and make no mistake
it’s something that I often do
Drift away for a while
with contentment and smile
a pastime I’ll often pursue

Beginning VI

6 of 12 in the Jemverse ’12 month IV’ series

In layers of grey with blue above
a February sky
caught me unawares today
as slowly I walked by
It promised new beginning
and though naked still the trees
the sunshine brought a warmth
to the fading winter freeze
So, resolved there in that moment
I vowed to hold that thought today
The hope for new beginning
as I went upon my way

A haiku for Sunday

Quality of life
seized in every moment of
this Sunday of rest

For je ne sais quoi moments

I stood still in the meadow with winter around me
a hand raised there to the sun
My shadow still long
tho’ now bright my song
with a feeling that Spring had begun

This field we walk

This field we walk
our saving grace
and for result
we love this place
Changing as
the year goes by
and different things
each time we spy
The joy of seeing
running paws
and flapping ears
to much applauds