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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

Sun reaching

Caught the end of the sun
and the last golden ray
out over the houses
at the end of the day

It was like a lost treasure
as with arms wide to clasp
to it I reached out
though outside my grasp

Stories from ‘The Dreaming Sites’

Emily Kame Kngwarreye
loved colour with a passion
with acrylic paint to canvas
like it was going out of fashion
and in eight years to an end of life
she captured there ‘the dreaming’
three thousand plus enlightenments
and each with hidden meaning

For when winter is done

A shaft of the sun
hit our north-facing garden
with a word just to say
for a beg of my pardon
A brief glimpse of promise
when the winter is over
and the sun is back out there
for days bathed in clover

When it’s safe

When it’s safe I will be out there
in the Sussex I hold dear
on the byways and the beach
where the air is ever clear

When it’s safe I will have music
live and loud as it should be
with songs that sing of life
which will then be Covid-free

When it’s safe I will be hugged
and will hug my loved ones too
replenishing that feeling
of the love I long to do

The beauty of a tree

Silhouetted in the sun
the tree in centre field
stands proud of the water
and looks out to the Weald

And out here east of Steyning
on this lovely winter day
I felt so glad to be alive
I shouted loud ‘hooray’!

Life is made for moments
like this, singular and free
especially when confronted by
the beauty of a tree

Baking

Thought I’d do some baking
not baked in quite a while
as after all a fresh new loaf
is bound to bring a smile
So I found all the ingredients
and kneaded it and proved
then floured it and dusted
with the washing-up removed
Then with half an hour’s baking
a new loaf proudly stood
bringing with it satisfaction
and the smile I knew it would

Oranges

Vibrant these oranges
capture the light
looking lovely for photos
and my appetite
But for this still life
I have to confess
that the picture you see
is one orange less

Frosted Teazles

The teasels through the fence
had had a frosting overnight
and now in three-tree field
they were caught in pale sunlight
And as the sheep in lower field
paused and looked so I did too
to gaze upon this wonder
well, you would now, wouldn’t you?