First XII

Concluding the Jemverse ’12 months III’ series [12 of 12]

Inevitably August time
when this month comes around
would see us looking forward
to a holiday we’d found
Somewhere hot and balmy
and usually on a ship
far across the ocean
for our destination trip

Embers II

Embers glowing
breezes blowing
caution throwing
here is youth

Embers glowing
clear the flowing
honest showing
not uncouth

Embers glowing
flicker going
I am knowing
this is truth

My blue seat

This seat out in the garden
like my neckerchief is blue
so I’ll often come and lie here
in the sunshine as you do
It’s perfect for my little legs
to lie on and relax
quite thoughtful of my humans
to provide for little chaps

The Lotty

The Lotty’s looking wild this year
we haven’t been there much
Lockdown saw to most of that
but we’ve still kept in touch

Emily’s been there more than us
and kept it in some shape
but living several miles away
it’s quite a trip to make

So long grass meadow is the norm
with wood chip in between
coupled with a lovely pond
the best we’ve ever seen

Sorted

Had a bit of a sort out
and found lots of things
some purchased at random
in one of those flings
Others forgotten
or just put away
on a whim and a fancy
on one rainy day

My hidden way

Took myself back round the Circle
starting with Mill Hill
heading to the chalky Slonk
my boots with joy to fill
Said hello to rabbits
and horses in the field
Took in long the valley view
across the Sussex Weald

Seemed appropriate

So I laid out in the sunshine
let my thoughts just drift away
Seemed appropriate to do this
on such a lovely day

The sunshine it was warming
and it was peaceful there
quietly in my garden
to relax without a care

It bordered on subliminal
exquisite and replete
a moment shared with no one
out in the summer heat

Another five days

I can rise when I like
but I’m up with the lark
as I want to see all of the day
For here are five more
for what lies in store
to do with as I like or I may

I may write a few words
over coffee at first
and then go and sit in the sun
Repot a plant
‘cos there’s nothing I can’t
do as I like til I’m done

Sweet Pea Vibrant

These sweet pea colours vibrant
fill our garden with their joy
their aim to please and satisfy
self-evident thieir ploy
Success, just like their name is sweet
with purples, reds and blue
this painting full of colour
we will never here eschew

That lavender time again V

Permeating everywhere
heaven’s scent again
that ‘lavender time’ is here once more
bring on that sweet refrain

An afternoon spent bagging it
that heady fragrance there
as I breathe in its loveliness
a thing beyond compare

And what is totally sublime
is that throughout the year
I simply have to squeeze a bag
to rekindle summer cheer

An ode to summer (revisited)

10 of 10 in ‘The summer’ series  from Jemverse

Momentum carries me forward
into the heat of the day
for a warmth that summer belongs to
with feeling mere words cannot say
It’s the season I always long for
Its comfort a tangible thing
Its presence to hold and cling onto
for a smile and a reason to sing

Summer days (revisited)

9 of 10 in ‘The summer’ series from Jemverse

On the beach at low water
watching seagulls at play
the view here at Worthing
around the wide bay
of the coastline in Sussex
bathed in a blue
reflecting the sky
is a joy to eschew

Summer knows (revisited)

8 of 10 in ‘The summer’ series from Jemverse

Purple fields
fragrance high
sunshine bright
deep a sigh
Lavender
in perfect rows
ripe for harvest
summer knows

My summertime delight (revisited)

7 of 10 in ‘The summer’ series from Jemverse

It caught me by surprise today
so bright it made me squint
when throwing wide the curtains
through the window with a glint

Catching summer (revisited)

6 of 10 in ‘The summer’ series from Jemverse

In bright sunshine behind a wall
I took a snap and captured all
Summer caught in picture frame
The glare the warmth the sweet refrain
An echo on a silent breeze
The soft sunshine on naked knees

Summer grin (revisited)

5 of 10 in ‘The summer’ series from Jemverse

Summertime in sunglasses
the sun comes from within
‘cos deep behind the darkness
is my special summer grin

©Jemverse

Summer (revisited)

4 of 10 in ‘The summer’ series from Jemverse

Oaken tree tall, middle of field
Shading all from the sun’s heady yield
Shadow of evening, summer is here
Cobwebs have vanished, eyes are now clear
Long gone the cold that brought chill to the bone
Here now the sultriness smiling from home

Reflected summer (revisited)

2 of 10 in ‘The summer’ series from Jemverse

Summer in the water
reflected by the green
Its millpond surface smooth
reflecting where I’ve been
Days of warmth and pleasure
bathing in the sun
Life exuding nature
enjoyed by everyone

The summer of me (revisited)

1 of 10 in ‘The summer’ series from Jemverse

When the morning air welcomes
From a night time that’s done
And the wind has died down
Giving warmth to the sun
And the sea’s a flat calm
Now the new day’s begun
The summer of me lives again

The Beach Hut Arms

Came down to the beach hut
on a very windy day
it wasn’t very warm but
I didn’t mind cos, hey…
The reason I was here
with the sea so very near
was to meet at social distance
with a good friend for a beer

Lighty-up-Llama

Last year I got a llama
for my birthday just for fun
it lights up of an evening
powered daily by the sun
And then glows different colours
as the evening takes a hold
from red to green to purple
and blue to yellow gold
At the bottom of our garden
it makes for cheery sight
as along with many others
it glows throughout the night

Cloud to sea

Ethereal with whimsy
it hung up in the sky
as we arrived at sunset
and really caught our eye
Across the English Channel
the white caps smaller now
as with the calm of evening
the wind had dropped somehow
Almost a mirror image
from sky to blustered sea
it caught imagination
as we wandered there, us three

More Summer

It’s miserable out there
so I think today I’ll stay
cosy here inside my home
and simply have a play

The wind is blowing boisterous
and the sky is full of rain
But it’s summer and July so
the sun will come again

41

The suit I’d purchased for twenty-five quid
all I could afford at the time
just after my twentieth birthday
my life waiting there on the line

The tie was one of my fathers’
as were the shoes on my feet
His passing was five years too early
to see his son’s wedding complete

Now forty-one years have surrendered
themselves to the life we have led
since that day way back in seventy-nine
when Sally and Jeremy wed

Together

We all went up to Bignor Hill
the six of us as one
It wasn’t actually raining
but there wasn’t any sun
Yet none of us we cared one jot
as this was perfect weather
for a long walk in the countryside
the six of us together

Simply back

Simply back together again
the six of us once more
was absolutely all that
we’ve been really waiting for

‘Normal’ is a word that I
think has lost its meaning
at least now here in context
and the way the world is leaning

But the chance to re-unite
our family – six as one
brought us all a joy which
is second here to none

Simple Pleasures

Writing in my little book
really brings me pleasure
just crafting lines of poetry
to hold and yes, to treasure
I just can’t stop myself I find
I simply have to write
be that in the daytime
or late into the night

A stone’s throw

A stone’s throw from the hillside
and a stone’s throw from the beach
Gosh! I am a lucky fellow
to have this in easy reach

And what’s more I have a river
from the sea into the hills
so if I tire of either
I have that to bring the thrills