“Nothing ventured, nothing gained”
the ancient proverb word
so we put best foot forward
and proceeded undeterred
Maintaining social distance
for our safety guaranteed
we met for conversation
with an appetite to feed
Perched on iron flowers
they swoop and flutter by
as, quiet behind my window
these little birds I spy
Still, I hold my camera
my pleasure cup to fill
to capture this fine moment
my breath, a whisper still
They were waiting in the window
with a vibrancy to share
two things of utter beauty
which I could not leave there
Sized and boxed and bagged and out
they left the store with me
beaming as the mere thought
of them filled me with glee
This evening we were in a painting
with colours and contrast and hue
beneath a cloudscape of wonder
providing a wonderful view
It was just like a Constable landscape
above and around us out here
exquisite the joy that it brought us
for a message abundantly clear
And though the darkness now appears
earlier each day
it’s good to see the summer lights
still twinkle here I’d say
For even though it’s cooler now
they speak of pleasure past
and keeps the memory intact
ensuring it will last
In the woods which my daughter
Called home for a while
Stands a structure quite tall
Full of mystery and guile
A treehouse built high
Now abandoned and sad
Though its stairs and its walls
With wood are still clad
But unfinished it lingers
Fenced off it its prime
Which is not all that far
I would say from a crime
To the woods in the rain
To sit by the fire
And warm up my hands in the dry
The sound of the drops
As it hammered down lots
And the summer hurried on by
The door out to the garden
Is closed now every day
As it’s too chilly otherwise
I’m rather sad to say
Gone are the days of summer
When warmth allowed us to
Keep doors and windows open
To let warm breezes through
I can’t go home, not yet.
Home is still moving,
When it stops, maybe I’ll rejoin it.
But this moment is real;
I can feel your lips,
and join you with
such easy passion.
I know the heat, the
weight, the wetness of you
In the dark,
or pressed against me
at a dock, oblivious
to jealous eyes,
saying a goodbye,
wordlessly telling
me what feels right.
Sensing it would not last.
My separateness
melts in the natural
grace of you.
October winds were howling
when October wasn’t here
as back in late September
I could tell the fall was near
And now the leaves are turning
the green it fades away
as a new season greets us
with each October day
The weather forecast tells me
That tomorrow there’s a turn
In the weather we have seen of late
So last chance here to burn
Just one more day of summer
It’s not that much to ask
A final opportunity
Beneath that sun to bask
Past sixty equilibrium
Is not what it once was
As balance sometimes fails
When you’re standing still because
Just the other afternoon
I found myself laid flat
When toppling from a bicycle
I’d stopped on, that’s a fact
So what did he do
on the beach when not working?
the question was asked
with appropriate smirking
Apt one would say
with no conviction of doubt
when all of the story of
the truth it gets out
October arrives
and autumn is come
now the last day
of September is done
Days getting shorter
shadows are long
and though the sun stays
it’s not quite as strong
The sprawl of Brighton to the east
and Worthing to the west
is why this beach at Lancing
sparks such an interest
As lying equidistant
the eye is drawn to each
affording quite the best of views
when sitting on the beach
There isn’t much to beat this
even if I tried
the sound of surf, the rising sun
and no place here to hide
Not that you would want to
for here is everything
to bring you joy and reason
to raise your voice and sing
Not content with just a day
I’m back again for more
a repeat here of the yesterday
close to this fine sea shore
The sunshine just as warming
the sea just as sublime
on this beach at Lancing
which I regard as mine
I am not yet retired
but not that long maybe
as there is much attraction
for just sitting by the sea
Today just for example
three hours I have set here
doing nothing else but look
out to the sea so very near
It’s still early but here
on the beach the warm sun
is rising and raring to go
So I’m here in my shorts
“Cos I felt that I ought
get in there and go with the flow
