Posts tagged ‘London’

June 7, 2023

St Lawrence’s Lament

by Jem Croucher
Deconsecrated hallowed walls to commercial gain
Shamefaced the stone walls weep
The ageing tower crenels kiss the sky
and now glazed windows
arch to residential pews

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June 5, 2023

Brentford Ait fading

by Jem Croucher
There's an abandoned tug listing to port
moored up near Brentford Ait
it's been quite a while since anyone cared
so it's in quite a terrible state

June 4, 2023

Old Father Thames and a slow evening

by Jem Croucher
Spent a while with Old Father Thames
as it meandered slow to the sea
far to the east from where I was then
down in the Thames Estuary
As here I am bathed in late evening sun
in Brentford, West London this week
May's weather sees summer returning at last
evident here as I speak

October 26, 2022

London tales #5

by Jem Croucher
For some it might seem strange to sit in a pub alone
especially in London when I'm several miles from home
but overhearing conversation, snippets caught as people chat
is a pleasant way to pass the time when with a pint in fact

October 25, 2022

London tales #4

by Jem Croucher
Sitting in a London pub
waiting with a jar
seemed the right thing there to do
the meeting place not far
Carnaby Street and Kingly Court
around the corner there
where in a bit I'll wander
a lovely meal to share

October 23, 2022

London tales #3

by Jem Croucher
Across the way St James' Tower
its clock face in the sun
as morning breaks in London
and the night time is all done

There's promise in that glow
of a lovely day to come
the sky already cloudless blue
the rain there quick to shun

October 22, 2022

London tales #2

by Jem Croucher
Walking back through London
from a film at Leicester Square
the crowds now long dispersed
saw Nelson's Column there

October 21, 2022

London Tales #1

by Jem Croucher
I'd forgotten the five o'clock darkness
on these cool autumn days
comfortable in ignorance
I've become set in my ways

Thankfully though this daily trudge
this commute in darkened time
is something I can live without
as it is no longer mine

July 9, 2022

Rolling days

by Jem Croucher
Sixty five thousand people gathered
and we were in the crowd
in London's Hyde Park in July
to hear the Stones play loud
A bucket list ticked off right there
sixty years of Rolling Stones
and Sal and I were part of that
before we headed home
Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and 'Keef'
all there for the hotspots
whilst all the crowd with one accord
raised hands for Charlie Watts

February 26, 2022

London in lights

by Jem Croucher
I don't know of its purpose
but the Southwark hoarding new
down by the river Thames this morning
provided quite a view
as visible behind it
London's skyline proved the most
of its attraction to the many
this new hoarding playing host

February 25, 2022

Burning sky

by Jem Croucher
East London early morning
and I turned and caught the sun
with burning sky across the Thames
just as the day begun
Gold shone from the high buildings
in the city 'cross the way
but, heeding Shepherd's warning
knew that rain would come today

February 20, 2022

Westminster Gold

by Jem Croucher
Westminster sunset
the gold in the sky
makes for a wonder
as I hurry by
But just enough time
to capture the scene
on my iPhone a snapshot
my thumb on the screen
for something to look at
a memory to keep
as I head on homeward
at the end of the week

February 18, 2022

No clink in Clink Street

by Jem Croucher
There's no clink in Clink Street at this time of day
Just the footfall of seldom trod feet
Occasional scuff on the cobbles down there
as we pass under night time's retreat
It's a moment of pleasure to seize and to hold
before all the tourists descend
to these streets of old Southwark which at this time of day
are simply a means to an end

February 6, 2022

Underneath Blackfriars Bridge

by Jem Croucher
Perched on railings on Southbank
herring gulls they gather
with an interloper in between
absorbing all the blather
He really doesn't mind of course
although the language of the others
is hard sometimes to understand
he regards them as his brothers
Underneath Blackfriars Bridge
they wait beside the Thames
resting from a day of flight
these feathered seagull friends

February 5, 2022

Three Days

by Jem Croucher
With darkness outside at the end of the night
I am tired and stifle a yawn
it is quiet and yet still I'm up with the lark
at this early hour shy of the dawn
And I have to say pleased it is only three days
each week that this I must do
as today I am feeling my sixty plus years
and would gladly these long days eschew
Just one more to master and then some respite
four days of a weekend in store
to chill and relax and slumber enjoy
before heading back for three more

February 4, 2022

Westminster Palace

by Jem Croucher
The Thames of a morning
with clear skies a-glow
just a few folk around
and the water's down low
The tide's on the turn
so the moorings and sand
and old stones from the walls
are evident and
Westminster Palace
unveiled 'cross the way
is striking and golden
to blend in with the day

January 31, 2022

Commuting again

by Jem Croucher
Tomorrow I'm back in London again
commuting up there on the train
leaving at dawn when no-one's about
travelling daily again
There's a bit of excitement but also a doubt
as Covid has not left us yet
but I'm boostered and jabbed and protecting myself
so I've really no reason to fret

November 21, 2021

Happy Place

by Jem Croucher
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

January 29, 2019

Privileged

by Jem Croucher

Looking out on grey water
from Lower Thames Street
to the Shard there on Southbank
architectural feat
I’m reminded the privilege
I share with the few
of working in buildings
which command such a view
of London’s surroundings
and tourist attractions
Oft taken for granted
with other distractions

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November 23, 2018

Travelling West

by Jem Croucher

It’s dark outside, this early hour
the night is not yet done
Yet I’ve been up for quite some time
For me the morning’s come

Ahead for several hours
a journey beckons me
Travelling down to Cardiff
from Sussex by the sea

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November 20, 2018

The Wellington

by Jem Croucher

Moored now at the Temple Stairs
where she’s been since forty-eight
The Wellington lies white and proud
A museum ship of late

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November 17, 2018

Poetic

by Jem Croucher

Moody skies above the Thames
on early winter morn
I’d shiver in the brittle chill
save for the coat I’ve worn
But Tower Bridge beneath the blue
with massive skies right there
Is such to take my breath away
That I just had to share

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November 12, 2018

Chiaroscuro

by Jem Croucher

Chiaroscuro to the painter
contrast captured to the eye
To the poet though, his words
capture light for you and I

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October 31, 2018

Stranger in a strange land

by Jem Croucher

Ventured to a wall of glass
with suits and conversations
much of which just passed me by
such was my motivation
For I was as a stranger
in a land I didn’t know
London’s dockland business world
with money there on show

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October 13, 2018

Tower Bridge

by Jem Croucher

London’s skyline, Tower Bridge
viewed from way up high
You don’t see views like this most days
beneath a cloud-filled sky

The sunshine on the River Thames
The Shard across the way
This really is spectacular
on this lovely autumn day

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September 17, 2018

Angel of the sky

by Jem Croucher

16 of 16 in the Jemverse ‘Venetian Vistas’ series

Holidays are exciting
in lots of different days
For when you’ve finished cruising
then you take to the airwaves

And our Tui flight this morning
is the ‘Angel of the Sky’
From Dubrovnik in Croatia
to London Gatwick we will fly

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July 5, 2018

To the river

by Jem Croucher

There are steps to the water
and I don’t know why
Something with meaning
in times now passed by

Perhaps for a boatman
to access his craft
For trade on the river
to board fore and aft

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June 10, 2018

Right time, right place

by Jem Croucher

In London quite early
(I was up with the lark)
So it’s still very quiet
in St James’ park

And just there by the lake
as I happenchanced by
A picture of heaven
for a smile and a cry

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