A walk by the water

There’s a lot to be said
at the end of the day
for getting out for a while to the beach
A short walk by water
is just what we oughta
do as it’s there in our reach

About a book from Venice II

This time last year I wrote about
a little book I’d bought
in Venice which I’d fully used
for poems as I ought
It was a lovely book so
when going back last year
I purchased two new volumes
to keep handy very near
For I am looking forward
to using them once more
and writing daily in them
which of course is what they’re for

Lifting II

I’m thinking of a song I heard
one that brought a grin
for that is what I need right now
with the state I’m in
I’m trying hard, don’t get me wrong
and I know I’m not alone
as there are many others out there
who like me must stay at home
But it’s hard remaining positive
so I need a helping hand
provided by a favourite song
sung by a favourite band

Simple II

I don’t ask for much in life
I’m quite a simple chap
Just music and some lavender
will content me, that’s a fact
So enforcing isolation
when we all must stay at home
doesn’t really bother me
and I’ll not gripe and moan

Tri-haiku XXVII (sunshine)

In these troubled days
with my movement restricted
by Covid-19

I am resolute
that the sunshine will remain
and bring fortitude

It is my saving
Ever precious and constant
A true friend indeed

Few trees

3 of 3 in the ‘Tree’ series from Jemverse

There are few trees up here but still
the view is quite breathtaking
so I don’t mind a bit because
it’s freedom in the making
On our doorsteps here but still
few people get this far
A mystery as up here the view
is quite spectacular

From Three Trees

2 of 3 in the ‘Tree’ series from Jemverse

From ‘Three Trees’ on the Beacon
with sunshine in the field
the view is always wonderful
out across the Weald
As you can see for miles
to the hill line way up north
across the scattered villages
as clouds pass back and forth
This place it is idyllic
high up on South Downs Way
made better by the sunshine
on this lovely mid-March day

Silences

What an odd boy, they used to say of me.
They’re still saying it.
But I’m a writer, my dear, and not right in the head.
That’s all it is. But I do know how to
take my time and listen,
sitting under the willow tree in the spring as the birds
bring me happy messages from God.
I will take my time with other important things, too,
so lay your curves of water here beside me.

If this pleases you,
You may pay me back with your
gift of second sight,
and tell me where my true nature hides,
where my pain
scuttles unhealed,
my illusions fester.

I will love you all the more for it.
These are gifts we give, freely
and they bind us in profound ways
because they reveal.

As a tree

1 of 3 in the ‘Tree’ series  from Jemverse

Though I am a poem
I am often as a tree
spreading wide my branches
to the winds and fancy free
Sometimes I am majestic
growing strong and very tall
and other times I’m minuscule
insignificantly small

Mother’s day 2020

My mother didn’t make it
to see my sixty years
when she passed away in May last year
amongst the smiles and tears
That saddened me (of course it did)
but it’s other times I miss
like the joy of giving flowers
on Mother’s Days like this
Yet the solace that I take away
from all the days I’ve cried
is the ever joyful knowledge
that she’s by my Father’s side

Sunshine shadow

Sunshine shadow
casts a glance
with nonchalance and whimsy
warming through the window
but outside still frail and flimsy

Sunshine shadow
gains in strength
now though as Springtime garners
new life from winter’s barren hands
for gardeners and farmers

Love in the Time of Corona

I’ve grown tired of disappointing women.
And of being disappointed in them.
I know that’s too broad a conclusion
from a very small sample.
Don’t care. I need a break,
and Corvid-19 is a convenient excuse.

I’m hiding out from another virus
of my own making,
sheltering in place and
eating frozen vegetables.
Aware this might become permanent.

I had a long life with a woman who died,
a life better than most, I think,
not as good as some.
But still, what do I have to complain about?

Younger people have their difficulties,
stemming mostly from being naively stupid,
but older men and women bring
a lot of experienced stupidity to the bed, too.
(If it ever gets that far.)

Little for perfecting

Across the bridge over the Adur
at night with lights reflecting
This view across to Shoreham Beach
needs little for perfecting

Fortitude

Each evening on the journey home
we drive beside the sea
‘neath a big sky that sweeping view
How fortunate are we?
The shingle beach right there beside
the road just yards away
a pleasure bringing fortitude
on each and every day

Lazy eye snuggle

A black nose nestled
in the crook of my arm
contented and dozing as we
sat late into an evening there
my soulmate Sally and me

Today

3 of 3 in the ‘Day’ series from Jemverse

Today I will probably work for a while
I’ll start about eight I would think
But first I’ll sit here and look at the world
as I’ve still some more coffee to drink

Every day

2 of 3 in the ‘Day’ series from Jemverse

By my window of a morning
when my blogs have been updated
I will sit here with my coffee
’til my mind is satiated

For there’s one thing I like to do
before I start my day
Commit to paper a few lines
in my own special way

Another day

1 of 3 in the ‘Day’ series from Jemverse

Fragile the fading
light slips quietly away
Yet, though mournful I pine
it is a sentiment embroidered
with the wonder of hope
Precious in the knowledge that
tomorrow is another day

Tanka week VII (Saturday)

7 of 7

My tanka week ends
Seven days and many words
every one from heart
And every one fashioned here
for reading delectation

Tanka week VI (Friday)

6 of 7

The penultimate
Nine lines more to speak my voice
Not to wane or waste
but here for ‘carpe diem’
Seize the day and capture all

Tanka week V (Thursday)

5 of 7

And then to rhythm
with the timbre and syntax
sounding as a drum
with feet tapping to the beat
allows this tanka to speak

Tanka week IV (Wednesday)

4 of 7

Sunshine speaks today
as its warmth embraces me
And compelled to sing
breathing deep I lift my voice
with these words I have to share

Tanka week III (Tuesday)

3 of 7

For there’s mystery
at times when inspiration
speaks out loud and long
a challenge to the poet
to capture the moment true

Tanka week II (Monday)

2 of 7

This week I will write
in thirty-one syllables
something every day
to capture joy and substance
in my words to speak and sing

Tanka week I (Sunday)

1 of 7

For this coming week
every day a Tanka new
for reading pleasure
And a challenge to the words
and the poet who writes them

Sunshine as a friend

Yellow, warming
lifts my soul
Catches, comforts
makes me whole
Brings a shoulder
to console
the sunshine as a friend

The sea and me II

I watched the sea
it did me proud
I smiled with it
then laughed out loud

It’s everything
and all of me
as I am whole
beside the sea

And II…

And I’ll tell you one thing
And this is quite good
And it has a good ending
And it’s right that it should