Come Summer

This time last year
we were spoilt that’s for sure
As the sunshine it came
and the temperatures soared
But this year it seems
we’ve returned to the fray
For June in full swing
sees rain every day

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60/40 III (the day after)

To the beach hut for breakfast
after music and laughter
watching the sea with some toast
Here with good friends
in the place that we love
down on the fine Sussex coast

We’ve done 60/40
(well, the birthdays at least)
The anniversary is still to come
It’s been a real blast
and long may it last
as we carry on having fun

60/40 II (The day)

The day has arrived
the one after Solstice
so the light will be with us til late
And here in midsummer
down on the beach
the atmosphere will be great

We’ve friends who are coming
from miles away
we have not seen for some time
So you can be sure
that we’ll celebrate
and that everything will be fine

60/40 I (The day before)

The venue is booked
and the playlist is ready
the invites sent months ago
And now, come the summer
it’s almost the time
for us to get on with the show

60/40 is here
celebratory time
with friends who are dear to our hearts
And come the morrow
we’ll get party togs on
for the evening eight o’clock start

Bumble bees and lavender

The bumble bees
love my lavender
They’re on it all the time
Drinking up the pollen
when the weather is sublime

And I’m jolly pleased
I planted them
last summer on a whim
As a bumper harvest later on
to me they now will bring

The beach is a birthday

At the beach hut on my birthday
(I was sixty yesterday)
And whilst not exactly sunny
It was perfect anyway
The sea was like a diamond
Flat calm, a lovely sight
Mirror-like, reflecting
the sky above so bright

60 (aka ‘Born to the sun again’)

I’ve seen sixty summers
and have loved every one
For back in the fifties
I was born to the sun

A child of a Thursday
I had far to go
And I’m still on the journey
and still in the flow

I’ve memories a plenty
and a lot more to come
for this child of the summer
who was born to the sun

Circle Tree

After the rain the
circle tree curled
its branches deep in the wood
Caught out attention as we passed
as to kindred spirits it should

Bouncing

Wolfgang was bouncing
and after his ball
We caught him on camera
which was a good call
Sometimes he caught it
sometimes he missed
But we always praised him
and gave him a kiss
Cos doggos need praising
and knowing you’re happy
Quite easy to do with
so bouncy a chappie

Certainty?

I am I think
and almost sure
that this what
my life is for
I think I’ve solved
the mystery
But then again
could just be me

Farewell but not goodbye

Today we say farewell to you
but definitely not goodbye
For some day we will meet again
when comes the day we die

So here’s to you our Mother dear
we’ll miss you, that’s the truth
But you are in a better place
A smiling John and Ruth

Spaced?

Tiring, this feeling
of being spaced out
It’s as if I am here
and yet there is doubt
Perhaps I am somewhere
else altogether
But I’m not sure that’s true
or even if whether
it’s right that I should be
elsewhere but right here
All that I know is
it’s not all that clear

The red and the gold

The sunset is over
the fading has passed
the evening slip-slides away
We’ve said our goodbyes
and shared in the peace
that we saw at the end of your day

The red and the gold
have flooded the sky
The evening of life is now done
We’ve each kissed your head
and held your sweet hand
as the end of your life has now come

Tawny Wood

The peace and
contentment of Tawny Wood
In our Scandinavian chalet
has been really lovely
We’ve all had a blast
Down in Sandy Balls Valley

We’ve walked with alpacas
stood in the rain
Watched as the sun came out bright
Wandered the woods
Looked up at the trees
with evident nature in sight

Heaven for all

Let’s face it, its only
when we get there we’ll know
at the end of the race
who will get there to go

But I’m these days convinced
that there’ll be no exceptions
for that is a failing
of mankind’s perception

Maybe?

Maybe today
It’s hard to know
The change is daily
Time to go
They’re waiting there
quite patiently
with open arms
I’m sure you see
Maybe today
the time has come
when you will know
the living’s done

Perhaps?

I read to you
whilst there you slept
Perhaps you felt
the tears I wept
Perhaps you heard
It’s hard to say
But I continued
anyway

Kew

Beneath the vivid leafy green
this time of year at Kew
Beside the Thames just sitting
early morning with a view

I have a little time to spare
so I’ll sit for here for a while
and write about this lovely place
Sufficient to beguile

The Light

In this chill air, this morning
when the light has just begun
I shiver in the sunshine
for the night is barely done

In this warm air, this noontime
with the light is in full swing
I bathe in the full sunshine
with the warmth that it will bring

June III

No 10 of 12 in the Jemverse ’12 months II’ series

Momentum carries us to June
from the month of May
The sunshine warm, the summer here
the lengthening of day

And loud I hear the whooping cheer
for summertime now come
Days of whimsy wait for all
now springtime is undone

South Harting

8 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

Up on Harting Down
I saw the folly to the West
It’s lovely here this morning
in bright sunshine, just the best

Then I walked in woodland
sunlight filtered through the trees
Birdsong all around me
Blue sky between the leaves

With Gold

7 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

Got up early
Went for a wander
as the sun rose on Frogmore Lane
Retraced my steps
to the path on the hill
on my own and peaceful again

There were sheep in the field
looking at me
with a quizzical look on their face
Wondered I guess
what I was about
so early in this lovely place

East Meon

6 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

We climbed back up old Butser Hill
East Meon in the valley
Went west along the hill line
and we didn’t dilly-dally

Walked along the South Downs Way
past ‘Dead Woman’s Gate’
I slowed down a little then
but Dave, he didn’t wait

The Long House

5 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

In the garden out back of the Long House
sitting out here in the sun
The fragrance of jasmine strong in the air
now the early evening has come

It’s peaceful here and idyllic
and I’m so pleased we could return
Here in the East Meon valley
contentment swift to discern

Itchen Abbas

4 of 8 in the Jemverse ‘Circular Sussex’ series

So we’ve walked in field of violets
and through hawthorn twitters long
to the Plough at Itchen Abbas
where Charles Kingsley wrote a song
“The Water Babies” was his opus
and he stayed here as he wrote
This village here in Hampshire
very quaint and quite remote

Good Music

3 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

It’s been three whole years
since the music was good
and there’s been little change in that time
For last night at the Crown
as the beers went down
the music was vibrant and fine

We played games of pool
then the Uno of course
the same game we started back then
The rules might have changed
and the deck re-arranged
but it’s great to be back here again

The Bishop on the Bridge

2 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

The Bishop on the Bridge
in Winchester town
the Itchen flows swiftly by
And we sit with a beer
in the garden out back
my brother David and I

Back with music in mind

No.6 of 6 in “the Music” series from Jemverse

Each month with new music
I’ll chop and I’ll change
and the playlists I use
I will oft re-arrange
So I’m grateful for i-pods
with music in mind
as with buds in my ears
I can always unwind