“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
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
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
How is it that so many people that claim to be Christians and cling to the misguided belief that America is a Christian nation show total disregard to the teachings of Jesus?
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
To SAVE AMERICA, you have to VOTE
To END THIS NIGHTMARE, you need to VOTE
Now you know what to do VOTE STRAIGHT TICKET BLUE
Did I mention that you need to VOTE?
Eight thirty in the morning
the sun warm on my brow
in September shorts with
the summer still somehow
The sunglare on the water
the millpond of the sea
and overhead the cloud free sky
means here’s the place to be
For over twenty years
I have sat and watched this view
back since I was forty when
this vista was brand new
Hut one-o-one at Lancing
on the east side of the beach
about three miles from where we live
so still in easy reach
So I’ve not written ’bout the beach
for quite a while it seems
but today is quite appropriate
with all these new sunbeams
For it seemed the summer left us
when August’s evening came
yet now it’s back and shouting
lest we forget its name
