Allotment IV (aka ‘A certain pleasure’)

There is a certain pleasure
at the end of a long day
to pop to the allotment
and have a little play

I might do some watering
or strim the grass a bit
or do a little weeding
or in the sunshine, sit

Seagulls passing

Sitting in the sunshine
by the river at high tide
A seagull came and perched
on the railings by my side
We had a little chat
as it seemed the thing to do
Passing a few pleasantries
before away he flew

Because we can

We’ll walk on the beach
at low tide on the sand
as dusk descends swiftly
and everything’s grand
With the lights from the city
out there to the East
Shining bright like a beacon
for a visual feast

A half pint of prawns

A half pint of prawns
and a beer in the sun
At the Bridge on a weekend
with Spring just begun

Surfcall

Sun on water
Surf a flat white
The beach as ever
A wonderful sight
Wavelets turning
Watch them fall
The sea in movement
With its call

Seen and found

Sand as far as eye can see
with Brighton to the East
this vista at this time of year
a perfect visual feast

Widewater Teazles

Widewater teazles
on a cold winter’s day
the air was quite frigid
and the water was grey

There was no-one around
when we got there at three
Just Obi and Basil, our dogs
Sal and me

Rummaging

Something that I love to do
whenever I get the chance
is go rummaging in a charity shop
by design or happenstance
Some days I’ll just have a browse
as it’s a good way to unwind
but most times I’ll make a purchase
when a treasure I will find

Sunday afternoons…

Sunday afternoons
A walk, a rest, a cup of tea
This insouciance

The Photographer

My eye in the lens
I capture to see
all of the beauty
here around me

Close to the sea

The joy of a home
that is so
close to the sea

Winter – sedoka

As winter takes hold
Autumn fades to memory
with a tinge of sadness there

Yet with the winter
Crystalline treasures return
and we are richer for that

Secret Places

It’s hidden by the railway line
unkempt for many years
and if the Signalman could see it now
he’s be reduced to tears
Once known as Railway Gardens
when the signal box was there
Nestled just behind the sign
that warned us “Trains – beware”

Winter comes to town

Autumn at St Mary’s
the yellow and the gold
the sunshine on the falling leaves
hides the biting chill
Crunching footfall as I walk
A blanket crisp and brown
as breath escapes in tiny clouds
and winter comes to town

Magnificent II

Long shadows with October
the days dawn cold and bright
and the sunshine in the eastern sky
provides a gorgeous sight
Glinting on the water
and magnificently gold
Rising over Shoreham beach
to the river in the cold

A fall from grace I

There’s a boat on the river
that’s sad and bereft
For I’m sorry to say
there’s not a lot of it left
Abandoned to fate
several years ago now
It’s slowly been fading
from its stern to its bow

Promises Golden

The day started golden
with promise in store
that there would be warmth
with the sunshine once more
Mid-September but still
the summer is here
Though autumn is calling
and is close by I fear

My summertime delight

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

Friday afternoon coffee

Sitting out in the sunshine in Shoreham
At Tom Foolery, mid of the day
with coffee that comes straight from heaven
watching people go on their way
This is the way to spend Friday
not really doing that much
Just sunning ourselves and passing the time
with idle chit-chat and such

As a seagull

As a seagull I flew inland from the sea
Up in a yellow-tinged sky
Looking down with the freedom I commanded in flight
as I swooped and I soared up on high

Long mile return

Watching winter setting sun
on the beach from the long mile
A perfect ending to the day
I stayed there for quite a while
An ebbing tide, a lapping sea
with gold reflected there
On the long mile I breathed my thanks
for all this in a prayer

Aesthetics of the sea

I often write about the sea
as in this southern light
It’s changing vista every day
provides a lovely sight

I’m fortunate (I know this well)
as not a day goes by
when I’ll not catch a fleeting glimpse
and watch it beautify

A fragrance lingers

Lingering on the dying embers
of a winter’s day
a subtle fragrance lingers
in a most enticing way
It is partly one of woodsmoke
heavy on the air
and partly one of winter
quintessential there

Sussex shores and breath taken

Muddy brown midst churning waves
I hear the ocean sing
with yellow skies beneath the grey
and seagulls on the wing

Bathed in yellow ochre

Bathed in yellow ochre
as through the clouds the sunshine broke
the sea reflecting breaking skies
as the storm removed its cloak
And settling there for brief respite
although the waves still towered high
we marvelled at the setting sun
beneath a darkening sky

Song of the sea

Bold the seagulls’ cry
reminds me of the sea
just a short walk away from home
waiting there for me

Strong the oceans’ call
I can’t ignore for long
brings me back to its embrace
woos me with its song

Four colours

White for the winter
Spring gets the green
Yellow for summer
Autumn gold we have seen

Rhythmic (chained haiku)

Rhythmic, the sea moves
Back and forth across the beach
Waves upon the shore