I found it on the high tide line
after a night of fire
the grand old lady of the sea
destroyed by spite and ire
Never proved but always known
her final hours presumed
the work of arsonists with flame
the pier now lost, consumed
Towering like a monolith
up into the sky
Brighton’s i-360
is really, really high
Dwarfing the remains
of the ruinous West Pier
it stands alone just waiting
for the summer to appear
I think it was Bizet the zebra was playing
in Brighton today in the sun
Nocturne in D Major if I’m not mistaken
Yes, I think that piece was the one
It was somehow fitting for the time and the place
a tranquil and quiet melody
Brought an air of contentment to those wandering by
In Brighton, so close to the sea
Maybe I can try
as the weekend once again
arrives this morning
to capture something of the
hallowed place it takes me to
confirming the choice is right
Seagull silhouetted on the canvas roof
as we sat with cup of tea
in January sunshine there with Sal
and Holly, Grace, Wolfgang and me
He made a happy picture there
synonymous, replete
so I quickly took a picture
making this fine day complete
Cathartic this wide expanse of beach
tide low under deep blue sky
just the tonic that I needed
as I wandered slowly by
Splashed winter boots in cold water
found a bright red shell
dragged my toe through the wet sand
with words I'll never tell
February the first, hip-hip hooray
to start afresh on this Wednesday
what it will bring I cannot say
but all the best to it
I'm sure there will be smiles and tears
there always are in all the years
as each day comes and more appears
with all the best to it
It's January's final day
Tuesday the thirty-first
one month gone of Twenty-Three
thirty days dispersed
I'm not sure where they've gone mind you
as it doesn't seem that long
since we were still on holiday
and singing festive song
But gone they have so onward
to the shortest month we go
What it will bring a mystery
though soon we all will know
I have an inclination
one deep-seated, born of dream
partly wishful thinking but
ever-growing with a smile of whimsy
to which I will return from time to time
For it is something to cherish
teetering on the brink of promise
“The colorful plastic bricks known as Lego have entertained children (and adults) around the world for nearly 70 years. Lego is used to make toy buildings, vehicles, creatures, machines, anything imaginable — and they can be taken apart and put back together as often as you’d like. That means endless creative play. National Lego Day celebrates these incredibly ingenious and enriching toys.”
This Red Leicester cheese
is completely divine
but this is not yours
for it's wholly mine
But if you're near Co-Op
go get some today
'cos your mouth will thank me
in every which way
Sat in the hospital waiting room
there with Sal for moral support
on a very cold winters' morning
('cos it's the right thing and I ought)
Here for an eyesight inspection
post-op (trust everything's good)
'cos we're not as young as we were
and things don't work quite as they should
'For not' or 'not for'
in juxtaposition
two different meanings
for intent or for mission
Language of substance
for writer and poet
who will always exploit
as it's they who will know it
Wednesday morning and
midweek meandering brings
the curl of lips and knowing
that the weekend looms
with time for being me and
for not suffering the fools
Indigo the darkness clings
though morning apparent is here
Silence exudes its hushed secrets
to a winter daybreak
Movement scant to a waking world
I am discouraged in this warmth
and yet a best foot forward beckons
a step into fading black
as the light spreads from the East
I have written of winter, the chill and the rain
and the ice and the snow and the shivers again
of the iron cold muster that lingers and bites
finding its way into warmth with a spite
But throughout all of this always I have half a mind
on the warmer days coming I know soon I'll find
For it's January now but soon I'll see May
and the sunshine that'll soon brighten my day
For a brief moment in the sky
a rainbow glowed and caught my eye
but in a moment it was gone
replaced by lovely sun that shone
that briefly dried up all the rain
before the grey clouds came again
Is this the last line or the first?
is my syntax back to front?
or is this perhaps the middle
I don't know - it's worth a punt
Perhaps I'm discombobulated?
Maybe you are now as well?
and reaching for the dictionary
(believe me - I can tell)
For actually we're nine lines in
and nearing now the end
of this little series ditty
which I've written for a friend
In October red I paused beneath
its lofty heights in wonder
at the absolute magnificence
of this redwood tree asunder
So imagine my dismay today
to find that storms with thunder
and a lightning strike reduced it
to a stump and piles of lumber
Yes, there's like still there but
its pride is lost for good
a sad, contrite reminder
of a once proud tall redwood
An angel perched close by our side
in the branches of a tree
as there we sat beside the lake
with flapjacks and cup of tea
He tweeted sweet a little song
reminding us in case
we needed that, though it was clear
by his exuded grace
He stayed there just a little while
before fluttering away
an angel on his angel rounds
on this fine winter's day
Tangible this winter chill
In January’s raw intent
As beneath these spectred morning veils
the silent mist is sent
Intrusive to beleaguered calm
Whispers like a shout
I’m a stranger in an iron-clad still
with no one else about
Yet frigid though the air might be
January serves to bring
A shivering smile through chattering teeth
that it will soon be Spring
Bereft of foliage great trees stand
proudly gracing England’s land
There amongst the winter green
the rolling landscape clearly seen
And pausing here before this view
we are completely thrilled anew
This is England where we live
where nature has so much to give
And we feel a peace when in this place
bequeathed to us by simple grace