The evening of the year revisited

3 of 7 in the Jemverse series ‘Autumn 21’

Beauty wears a frown
as Autumn colours fade and die
The Summer’s warmth now distant
as the year it hurries by

November looms. Finality
the year is almost done
Now in the throws of Winter
the Spring has far to come

Yet all is not lost for soon the chill
will see Jack Frost’s return
when beauty’s frown will disappear
and new winter wonders learn

I’ve been writing

I've been writing now for ages
my pen just can't keep still
and I'm certain that will be the case
for more years yet until
I've lost the plot entirely
and the words, dried up, are done
(I'll rue the day) but then accept
that day has finally come

But I'm pleased to say for now at least
I still write every day
as life it still continues
and has plenty more to say
So that's what I use my words for
to paint the life I see
in all its many nuances
as it evolves 'round me

A week of adventures

Concluding the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’ (12 of 12)

We've had a week of adventures
but it's good to be home
full of the joy of
the pleasures we've known

We've had seven more days
of summer and sunshine
and although mid-October
the weather's been so kind

Last day in Lyme

No.11 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

On our last day we went back to Lyme
to look for fossils on the beach
heading westward from the town
to one in easy reach
And found them, oh I think we did
some massive ones at that
in boulders far too heavy
to take home and that's a fact

So I built a sculpture with flat stones
I found and balanced there
quite pleased with my achievement
took photographs to share
And the sun as it had been all week
shone down and warmed and beamed
as we sat down and rested
on the sand and looked and dreamed

Fish supper on the Cob

No.10 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

A fish supper on the Cob
at Lyme Regis evening time
not so many people now
though the weather is still fine

Watched the fishing boats return
with flocks of seagulls there
watching out for morsels
or wayward fishes spare

October Summer II

No.9 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

With the sunshine on the water
and the blueness of the sky
you'd be forgiven for believing
this was summer and July
But no, it's mid-October
and yet the sun's still very strong
bringing with it warming rays
which to summer should belong

Seaton Beach Tree

No 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

By the orange cliffs at Seaton
on the beach is a dead tree
looking like a natural sculpture
beside East Devon's sea

Of course I had to get a closer look
so I walked along the beach
til I was close to where it was
with it in easy reach

It really was quite lovely
sculpted there by nature's hand
A little sad that it was dead
yet still it's proud to stand

A morning hike

No. 7 the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

So we all walked back to Charmouth
early morning 'round sunrise
with mist in all the valleys
and a glow atop the rise

Took us about an hour
then we walked right back again
as the sun climbed higher brightly
in the east from whence it came

Lyme Regis & Snow

No.6 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

It was snowing in Lyme Regis
except it wasn't, it was fake
Warner Brothers filming there
a new movie for to make
Willy Wonka 2 so we believe
and they'd made a winter scene
but although they'd finished filming
we could see where they had been

Charmouth Jurassic

No.5 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

So we wandered down to Charmouth
beside the River Char
bathed in October sunshine
with views spectacular
around about three miles
so it didn't take us long
and it was really rather warm
as the sunshine was quite strong

Exploring

No.4 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

Walked out for some exploring
early morning of the day
found the Five Bells atop the hill
saw sheep and lambs at play
the sun gleamed on the tower
of the church down in the village
as a big tractor passed me close by
avoiding country spillage

Wandering Tranquil

No. 3 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

Before the Dorset sun retired
at the end of a fine day
we went for a small wander
down the lanes around this way
At the crossroads we went straight ahead
as it seemed the thing to do
passed by the Crooch Farm courtyard
'neath a cloudless sky of blue

Courthouse Farm

No.2 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

In Whitchurch Canonicorum
here at Courthouse Farm
we six came for adventure
in a big converted barn
Deep in the Dorset countryside
but not far from the coast
for a week of fun and frolics
of which we'll make the most

Dorset Adventures

Part 1 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

We're all quite excited
and the bags are all packed
with wellington boots
and scarves, coats and hats
the route is selected
and we all know the way
as we're finally going
on our holiday

Just as I please

I'm on Worthing seafront
it's grey and there's rain
but I'm at Bison's beach bar
with a beer once again

Besides I'm on holiday
so I don't really care
as it's just nice to sit
and do nothing down there

Travelling again

Last week I braved the train because I had to
and it wasn't all that nice
seemed the people had forgotten
and were content to pay the price

But today was a different matter
and I felt more at ease
travelling in for pleasure
with just myself to please

The pleasure of these days

Well, although the sun was shining
and some warmth was evident
it wasn't packing substance
to support a whole day spent
sitting by a beach hut
just looking at the sea
So I decided not to do that
quite unreservedly

No remonstrating

And this morning the sunshine
returned with a smile
as it's been fairly rainy
and wet for a while
The mercury's rising
and the thermometer shows
the direction the warmth
and my wandering goes

For fun (aka ‘anticipation V’)

Today I am
quite pleased to say
is when it's gone
is my last day
for two whole weeks
as Monday next
we're off to Dorset
(watch this text)

Yes two whole weeks
of holiday
when I can rest
Hip, Hip, Hooray
two whole weeks
to nothing do
which I'd imagine
so would you

Our haven

This place, this haven
it's all of us
and we all miss it
if because
for some misfortune
or mishap
we have to tell
the little chap
there'll be no running
through the grass
or round the corner
as we pass

It rained

It rained and then
it rained some more
and the more it rained
the more I saw
as water trickled
here and there
and got in
almost everywhere

One II

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

One for the first day now of October
and I thinks the summer's now ended
as although there's a warmth remaining we have
now the woodsmoke of autumn befriended

There's a change in the air and a lacklustre feel
of the green in the trees all around
and a hint of the gold and the treasure we'll find
with the new crunch of leaves on the ground

Inside

The rain came down on Sussex
on a weekday from grey sky
puddles in the gutters
as bent people hurried by

Hunched against the blowing wind
their purpose form they sped
to various destinations
by design each to were led

And watching from a distance
I felt relieved that I
did not need to brave the wilds
and could stay warm and dry

Normality

It's a first for me today
no trains for quite time
not since the first lockdown
have I braved the ridden line

And yet today to Worthing
I must venture yet again
for my first day in an office
and a journey on a train

Pretty Sails

Nestling in the harbour
at the yacht club yesterday
a jolly pretty sailboat
I espied whilst on my way

So I made a little detour
across the Adur Ferry Bridge
so that I could take a photo
as a special privilege

Ivory Towers

We've had to cancel Obi's field
as we cannot now drive there
the car is down to mere fumes
and there's no fuel anywhere
And because of the congestion
caused by massive traffic lines
queueing up at petrol stations
in these trying times
public transport's suffering
so we can't use that either
So we've cancelled Obi's field
and this week will take a breather

Not quite turning

There's promise in the Western sky
this morning here I think
for as the sun begins to rise
he's tipped me here a wink

No letting go to cooler times
not yet and not today
as we cling on to summer
though the Fall's not far away

Here comes Friday

And with morning three words came
'Here comes Friday' my waking eye
with silent whisper
said, I beamed
The sunshine decided September
had still more summer to give
warmth remaining
here it seemed
And outside my window the golden one
waved gregariously from the East
with its hat on
Comfort gleaned