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?

For bliss

Ice cold here yet beautiful
Jack’s frosted strands they cling
with brittle fronds of loveliness
to cover everything
Too cold to stand here very long
yet there is time for this
rare spectacle of wonder
at this time of year for bliss

Over Brighton Tonight

A sky atmospheric
over Brighton tonight
met us on the beach
reflecting the light

Spectacular was
the view there that we
had to pause for a while
by the night-blackened sea

With all that you read here

It didn’t trouble Wordsworth
or Longfellow or Dahl
as I’m sure when they were writing
you would never hear a snarl

So I won’t let it trouble me
for there is much in life
to write some joyful lines about
avoiding all the strife

So here to make that very point
though I’ll need to be quite snappy
are several lines to bring a smile
and leave you feeling happy

They said there’d be snow (again)

10 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

They said there’d be snow
Well, its cold enough
and there’s frost over all every day
But the sea air down here
on these southern shores
always seems to get well in the way

All is white again

9 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

I wrap up warm against the cold
I feel it now I’m getting old
There’s white on everything around
The air is crystal n’er a sound.

Suppress a shiver to the chill
I take this in and have my fill
For only winter brings this sight
This wonderment when all is white

Tri-haiku XI (winter blue returns)

8 of 10 in ‘The Winter series’ from Jemverse

I am winter blue
Born to December, I chill
to iron cold bone

I am winter blue
To brittle January
icy fingers spread

I am winter blue
But with yellow I will change
to the green of Spring

The safe warmth of home again

7 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

Steel grey seas with iron chill
it’s with whimsy that I peer
at the beach I know so well
in summer brings such cheer

Yet now the winter’s icy hand
has me firmly in its grip
As grey green waters frenzied churn
with northern winds are whipped

So I with best foot forward
march swiftly ‘cross these stones
No lingering in winter times
for the safe warmth of home

Winter with me now (again)

6 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

Eight line stanza thinking of
the winter with me now
Brittle chill, not warming sun
cold upon my brow
But dressed up warm it’s good to brace
the iron winter chill
for as it passes Springtime looms
and ever closer still

Winter days again

5 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

These cold weekends of winter
keep us warm indoors most days
For it is frigid out there
devoid of warming rays

So we’d rather stay here snug and warm
with music, books and cheer
in our jumpers and our slippers
our staple winter gear

The winter bully returns

4 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

Breath escapes in tiny clouds
a whisper to the chill
as icy iron fingers grab
and hassle me at will

I’m minding my own business
A summer’s child adrift
Lost in this cold wilderness
and feeling somewhat miffed

Sunshine like water (again)

3 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

Like water the sunshine, diluted and pale
greets this cold winter’s day
Its warmth has long gone and despite a brave face
Its exuberance has faded away
But its low zenith in the January sky
brings a glare from its fragility
Highlighting a beauty in all it shines on
which is very pleasing to me

Winter’s smile again

2 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

There’s a crystalline clarity out here today
in the trees there over the way
A ground frost has visited the fields overnight
And it’s more beautiful than I can say

So I’ll not waste my words and contented instead
Just quietly stand here awhile
Allow winter’s wonder to embellish again
with a picture in mind for a smile

Thinking of summer when cold returns

1 of 10 in ‘The Winter Series’ from Jemverse

When it’s cold in the winter
I will look to the sun
and think back to the summer
as I have always done
Back to the days
of whimsy and breeze
when a cool wisp is welcome
rustling quiet through the leaves

The world outside my window

The world outside my window
changes by the day
Sometimes it’s bright and sunny
and other times there’s rain

South facing from the east
I can see the rising sun
and later on out to the west
the glow when it is done

The wisdom of the sea

The water looked like crystal
as it sparkled in the sun
Like glass its light refracted
for a New Year just begun

A ‘je ne sais quoi’ said something
as a whisper silently
caught and carried by the breeze
across the windless sea

I think it was a promise
though I’m not completely sure
so I will come here every day
to listen out for more

Beginning V

5 of 12 in the Jemverse series ’12 months IV’

To the New Year a promise
here made to ones self
to remain true to form
and with all of my wealth
to capture from life
one day at a time
its essence in words
and transpose to line

Last day sedoka

So we wave goodbye
avoiding use of ‘farewell’
words for this year now passing
Welcome to the new
with this eve for promised hope
here’s to a brighter future

Eighteen crazy holes

Eighteen crazy holes
Chichester in the sun
an after Christmas present
enjoyed by everyone
The plane up on the falls
gave us all a focal view
and every single hole
gave us a challenge new

2020

Reminiscing at conclusion
of this year that has now been
I think back over all that we
have done and all we’ve seen
As it started fairly normally
at the beginning of the year
when none had any reason
to think we’d shed a tear

But just a few weeks later
all the pubs and shops were closed
with people social distanced
diametrically opposed
the world ran out of toilet rolls
and pasta which was strange
as to a locked-in world
our lives we re-arranged

Family II

A sound of something falling
on the TV; cries of ‘ouch’
accompanied by laughter
from the children on the couch
a house of conversation
undercurrent with a thrum
heard buzzing on the airwaves
like welcome rays of sun

Christmas week VII

7 of 7 in the Jemverse ‘Christmas week’ series

The Christmas week now
today sees its end
with just five days to go
before this year we’ll send

On its way with relief
as really we should
as let’s face it, it’s truly
not been that good

But before it’s sent packing
we still have some December
to fill with good things
for us to remember

Christmas week VI

6 of 7 in the Jemverse ‘Christmas week’ series

T’was the day after Christmas
twenty-sixth of December
and if I say so myself
a one to remember

For this year as we know
has been naff to extreme
the worst one in fact
that the world has yet seen

But despite all the naffness
we have still come together
for the best of good times
we will treasure forever

Christmas week V

5 of 7 in the Jemverse ‘Christmas week’ series

The week before Christmas
has been and has gone
And it’s Christmas Day now
that this day is upon

We’ve had Bucks Fizz for breakfast
and a walk on the beach
a tradition of ours
as it’s in easy reach

Christmas dinner’s at five
but before that in store
are whoops of delight
and presents galore

Christmas week IV

4 of 7 in the Jemverse ‘Christmas week’ series

T’was the week before Christmas
and the last day arrived
Twenty-fourth of December
and we’d all survived

The gifts are all wrapped
and the ‘bubble’ is here
with big smiles all round
for good Christmas cheer

And as we settle down
for ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
we’ll put to one side
all the trouble and strife

Christmas week III

3 of 7 in the Jemverse ‘Christmas week’ series

T’was the week before Christmas
just two days to go
Twenty-third of December
and all were a-glow

For true festive spirit
descended today
and despite the restrictions
with loud ‘weh-heh-hey’!

As we are determined
this Christmas will be
the best Christmas ever
for our family

Christmas week II

2 of 7 in the Jemverse ‘Christmas week’ series

T’was the week before Christmas
just three days to go
Twenty-second December
but no sign of snow

But the Bethlehem star
from the planets alignment
had shown on the Solstice
for worldwide excitement

So that was quite special
for many to see
in the week before Christmas
in twenty twenty

Christmas week I

1 of 7 in the Jemverse ‘Christmas week’ series

T’was the week before Christmas
just four days to go
and most of the household
was ready to go

The tree had been splendid
for several weeks there
with gifts now appearing
just waiting to share

And excitement was growing
there in the wings
for this time with a promise
of the joy that it brings