Back to Lazy Day Tanka

4 of 12 in the ‘About Brighton’ series

Breakfast in Brighton
November morning sunshine
follows after rain
Both providing sustenance
for lazy Sunday slowness

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Back to a fall from grace III

3 of 12 in the ‘About Brighton’ series

I found it on the high tide line
after a night of fire
the grand old lady of the sea
destroyed by spite and ire
Never proved but always known
her final hours presumed
the work of arsonists with flame
the pier now lost, consumed

Back to i in the sky

2 of 12 in the ‘About Brighton’ series

Towering like a monolith
up into the sky
Brighton’s i-360
is really, really high
Dwarfing the remains
of the ruinous West Pier
it stands alone just waiting
for the summer to appear

Back to the Zebra and Bizet

1 of 12 in the ‘About Brighton’ series

I think it was Bizet the zebra was playing
in Brighton today in the sun
Nocturne in D Major if I’m not mistaken
Yes, I think that piece was the one

It was somehow fitting for the time and the place
a tranquil and quiet melody
Brought an air of contentment to those wandering by
In Brighton, so close to the sea

Replete

Seagull silhouetted on the canvas roof
as we sat with cup of tea
in January sunshine there with Sal
and Holly, Grace, Wolfgang and me
He made a happy picture there
synonymous, replete
so I quickly took a picture 
making this fine day complete

Clarity V

Cathartic this wide expanse of beach
tide low under deep blue sky
just the tonic that I needed
as I wandered slowly by

Splashed winter boots in cold water
found a bright red shell
dragged my toe through the wet sand
with words I'll never tell

Red Leicester mine

This Red Leicester cheese
is completely divine
but this is not yours
for it's wholly mine

But if you're near Co-Op
go get some today
'cos your mouth will thank me
in every which way

Indigo

Indigo the darkness clings
though morning apparent is here
Silence exudes its hushed secrets
to a winter daybreak
Movement scant to a waking world
I am discouraged in this warmth
and yet a best foot forward beckons
a step into fading black
as the light spreads from the East

Redwood gone

In October red I paused beneath
its lofty heights in wonder
at the absolute magnificence
of this redwood tree asunder

So imagine my dismay today
to find that storms with thunder
and a lightning strike reduced it
to a stump and piles of lumber

Yes, there's like still there but
its pride is lost for good
a sad, contrite reminder
of a once proud tall redwood

Angel II

An angel perched close by our side
in the branches of a tree
as there we sat beside the lake
with flapjacks and cup of tea
He tweeted sweet a little song
reminding us in case
we needed that, though it was clear
by his exuded grace
He stayed there just a little while
before fluttering away
an angel on his angel rounds
on this fine winter's day

Erf

No.5 in the ‘Colloquy’ series

This twenty rod* plot, our 'erf', our realm
our saving grace, our haven
is such to bring a 'joie de vivre'
and oft a cause for 'pavan'*
As though each year we toil for long
to dig and plant and sow
the reward of produce that it brings
gives reason more to grow

Beeching’s Blunder III

Forlorn now this iron leads to nowhere
save to a shortsighted whim
synonymous to abandoned towns
where Beeching's blunder echos still

Yet testament still here they lie
as memory fades with brittle truth reminder
tracking to long lost connections
and a politician's gain

Puzzlegate

Framed by aging iron posts
the ancient steps behind
the padlocked gate lead nowhere
(least no place I could find)

Mysterious the setting
with the undergrowth and tree
left me puzzled and a-wondering
at what it all could mean

Coddiwomple

No. 4 in the ‘Colloquy’ series

We coddiwompled in the mud
up at Barcombe Mills
all eight of us together
amidst the Sussex hills

The rain held off but underfoot
the mud was thick and wet
but we all had the best of times
so never cause to fret

Last Day II

So to thirty first December and
the last day of the year
Twenty two has been and gone
as twenty three appears

There have been many moments
with emotions running rife
as is the wont of passing time
this c'est la vie, this life

But there are still remaining hours
to finish it for good
so on this New Years' Eve we will
enjoy it as we should

Rejuvenation

Almost iridescent brightness to squint
with eyes skewed to the sun behind
where spiky winter teasels cold
stand proud against a low zenith
of a winter sky

Of Taps and Newcastle winters

Went to the Tap, the weather was raw
but it wasn't the sleet or the snow that I saw
but rather the fair Newcastle town trade
that good conversation with a pint that was made
and convivial warmth with the victuals there
made the winter outside something better to bare
So I stayed for a while and chatted some more
before heading back out to what lay in store

Of writers and readers (revisited)

Concluding ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022 (12 of 12)

Cathartic the writing
the pen to the page
Words from the poet
the seer and sage
To capture life’s moments
like a photograph here
And bring to the reader
a little more cheer

©Jemverse

Series pic – Jempics

[Of writers and readers was first posted in three parts over three consecutive days in October 2018. Parts II and III are here and here.]

Over the years I have titled several poems with the preposition ‘of’ – so this last Jemverse mini-series of 2022 pulls some of those back together again

Of windows and gold (revisited)

11 of 12 in ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

We have a window
to look to the world
and watch every day
as life is unfurled
For me it’s a garden
as nature’s fair hand
paints changing pictures
of my bit of land

Of the sun (revisited)

10 of 12 in ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

Winter clung fast
to April’s last day
with rain and strong winds
to greet first of May

Yet there is still time
for the sunshine to come
with promise of summer
born of the sun

Of rainbows and promise (revisited)

9 of 12 in ‘The Of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

The promise over our house today
in the sky right after the rain
gave us both a feeling of joy
when it with its radiance came

The colour was vivid, the arc of it wide
and though brevity saw its demise
its purpose was clear, one of promise and hope
beneath it revealed to the wise

Of an evening (revisited)

8 of 12 in ‘The Of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

Of an evening spent down by the sea
with waves lapping there quietly
I’ll let the silence encapsulate me
At the end of a wonderful day

Of an evening with the sky painted pink
as my toes in the sand slowly sink
I have time to ponder and think
At the end of a wonderful day

Of seagulls and seasons revisited

7 of 12 in ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

Throughout the year the seagulls
as seasons come and go
are always out there for me
be it sunshine, rain or snow

In the winter and the autumn
In the Springtime when it’s green
In the summer when it’s nice and warm
There are seagulls I’ll have seen

Always out there flying
or swooping ‘cross the sea
I’m so glad I have the seagulls
as they’re part of life for me

Of shillings and treasure revisited

6 of 12 in ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

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

Of poets and words revisited

5 of 12 in ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

Pen to paper
virgin sheen
words I’ve found
have never been
Coupled closely
with another
Family as if
to brother

Of Venetian diamonds revisited

4 of 12 in ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

Sailing east from a sunset as rich as could be
We continued our cruise here in North Italy
Venice passed golden and we waved a goodbye
as a moment we shared with a tear in the eye
As this was with no doubt a diamond day
spent here in Venice in every way

Of sheep, walking and winter revisited

3 of 12 in ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

The sheep were in the upper field
I could see them on the hill
meandering whilst grazing
whilst winter grips us still
and though there is a part of me
with wanderlust that yearns
to tread those hills and join them
another part adjourns

Of rust and gold revisited

2 of 12 in ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

And to these days when all I hold
is flecked with rust or painted gold
I know which of these I prefer
So to the gold I will defer

The rust it takes a second place
Resting with its fall from grace
Yet not forgotten all these things
as each have given cause to sing