Inspiration II

What is my inspiration?
I’ve been asked this many times
where do I as poet find
the substance for these lines?

Well, there’s a simple answer
because it’s all about the things
that I see all around me
and the pleasure that all brings

Too good to miss

“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

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

Rainbows on my feet

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

In a painting

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

A nod to summer

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

Treehouse

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

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

Precious moments

I sat outside and mourned the fact
That with us here north facing
The sunshine now has left us
For cooler winds more bracing

Yet still there is this pocket
And I’m thankful here for this
As with longer shadows growing
There remains this minor bliss

Autumn II

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

Little yellow seat II

I’m sitting on the yellow seat
Looking out to sea
It’s perfect in the sunshine
Although a tad windy

We came down here again today
So it seemed the thing to do
On such a lovely day as this
To see this lovely view

Anticipation IV

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 last day of summer

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

Equilibrium (aka ‘Face Planting’)

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

Autumn’s Truth

As warmer months saw evening
a cooler one began
so I set down to capture it
with words because I can

It spoke of golden wondrous things
a priceless treasure where
garnered words would never really
capture it right there

But unconvinced I told it
that as a poet I
had a few tricks yet up my sleeve
that I could here apply

Who’s smirking?

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

Beginning II

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

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

Secret II

Quietly the voice it whispered
barely audible it spoke
secrets only I could hear
way before the day awoke

Finger to my lips a promise
made and kept and honoured long
silence sang the words of knowledge
harboured by this ageless song

On the beach II

10 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘On the beach’ series

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

Entirely mine

9 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘On the beach’ series

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

Back for more

8 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘On the beach’ series

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

7 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘On the beach’ series

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

Little yellow seat

6 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘On the beach’ series

There’s a little yellow seat
on the shingle near the shore
just above the tideline
so I know just what it’s for

For its position faces eastward
so down there early morn
you’d see the sunrise glory
with the coming of the dawn

Rude not to

5 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘On the beach’ series

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

Summer’s sweet encore

4 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘On the beach’ series

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

Twenty year view

3 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘On the beach’ series

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

September Sunshine III

2 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘On the beach’ series

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

Reason to sing

1 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘On the beach’ series

I took a week off
it was a good choice
as there were good things
in which to rejoice

For starters the sunshine
decided to stay
and reboot the summer
in every way