January’s shivering smile revisited

8 of 10 in the ‘Brittle 23’ series

Tangible this winter chill
In January’s raw intent
As beneath these spectred morning veils
the silent mist is sent

Intrusive to beleaguered calm
Whispers like a shout
I’m a stranger in an iron-clad still
with no one else about

Yet frigid though the air might be
January serves to bring
A shivering smile through chattering teeth
that it will soon be Spring

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Bringing Smiles

[#16 in the ‘Past to Present’ series from Jemverse]

One hundred sixteen years ago
'Old B' he wrote some lines
and sent them to Molteno
in those now long distant times
I can't quite read his writing
but I know so well the scene
on the postcard that he used
as it is a place I've been

London tales #4

Sitting in a London pub
waiting with a jar
seemed the right thing there to do
the meeting place not far
Carnaby Street and Kingly Court
around the corner there
where in a bit I'll wander
a lovely meal to share

The poet’s dog II

In his favourite chair he sleeps
whilst words behind him flow
the poet's dog oblivious
to this refined tableau
Yet his presence is a comfort
as there once in a while
the poet looks up from his work
and sees him with a smile

Postures On Shadows

Joint Poetry by Venkataraman L.N. and Joseph Kurian

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Golden Memories

Joint Poetry by Venkataraman L.N. and Joseph Kurian

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At the eve III (part 1)

1 of 12 in the Jemverse summer 22 series ‘Melting Days’

At the eve of this day
I will lie back in lavender
and there will be evening sunshine
and a deep breath of contentment
and there I will find a smile

Sussex Trails

These hills, these ways, these wildflower trails
so many times traversed
and yet in absence, no regret
as evidenced by verse
For here I'm in my element
my heartstrings pulled to smile
whenever I'm on Sussex trails
for mile on wondrous mile

Dogsmiling

A Woozle went a-running
in a field in the sun
his ears pointing upright
as he galloped on the run
Thunderpaws by nature
they were thundering today
as he ran around in circles
with a 'hip hip hip hooray'
For this was joy unbridled
unfettered running free
expressed there in his features
with a dog smile full of glee

Sandcastle

We made the best sandcastle
that a beach has ever seen
it took us several hours to make
a mark where we had been
Little children paused to stare
and admire it with a smile
for it was truly massive
and took all of us a while

Withy 22

Despite the worst that winter had
with storm force winds and rain
come Spring the withy fence I built
stood proud and there remained
It's greying now and brittle from
the allotment's changing clime
but it's still something I'm proud of
and it is uniquely mine

Guaranteed

Never a dull day, an adage to hold
whether skies be bright blue or all grey
keep a smile on the face and a glint in the eye
is something to live by each day
Sometime it is harder than others I know
but there's always a place there to find
just a 'je ne sais quoi' or other obscure
to help you relax and unwind
And that glint in the eye, may it never fade
six decades truthful to me
so just give it a chance, try it out for a day
and you'll notice the change, guaranteed

Daffodil

Twelve scribings revisited; Part 2 in the Jemverse ‘Malleable Days’ series

I think that if there’s one
thing to remind me of the Spring
It is the humble daffodil
and the pleasure it will bring
It’s all about the yellow
Bringing warmth sealed by the sun
and it’s something of the promise
at shadow’s end with light begun
From the monochrome of winter
the brightest colour for a while
The bright but humble daffodil
is sure to bring a smile

A kindness

It's not being selfish as sometimes you need
a kindness extended to self
a pampering here
for a top up of cheer
all to keep you in perfect health

And it's not just your body but your mind of course too
that needs looking after each day
mental health care
to keep you aware
and help you along on your way

Aspiration

Accused of recalcitrance
well maybe that's true
when it comes to the verse that I write
For I see little merit
so will always give credit
to a smile and bring it to the light

For that is my virtue
my license to use
no matter how I might feel
As a bright word to me
is one needed to be
if by it something there needs to heal

A N.I.C.E. Limerick

N.I.C.E. – Notice, Invite, Challenge, Empower

The forbidden word

Yes I know it’s a word

which for me’s rarely hidden

yet as I use it so much

my wife has forbidden

But I really can’t help it

so here as a poet

I’ll resist but I’m tempted

so much, don’t you know it!

Baking

Thought I’d do some baking
not baked in quite a while
as after all a fresh new loaf
is bound to bring a smile
So I found all the ingredients
and kneaded it and proved
then floured it and dusted
with the washing-up removed
Then with half an hour’s baking
a new loaf proudly stood
bringing with it satisfaction
and the smile I knew it would

With all that you read here

It didn’t trouble Wordsworth
or Longfellow or Dahl
as I’m sure when they were writing
you would never hear a snarl

So I won’t let it trouble me
for there is much in life
to write some joyful lines about
avoiding all the strife

So here to make that very point
though I’ll need to be quite snappy
are several lines to bring a smile
and leave you feeling happy

YOU’RE AN INSPIRATION

By Charles Robert Lindholm

To a woman of beauty,
with a mischievous smile
and a seductive pose

with words that thrill me
in poems and prose”

Winter sun

The sun made an appearance
not seen it in a while
so its warmth upon my shoulder
brought again to me a smile
Polite again as always
it asked my where it should
and my reply as ever was
that anywhere was good

Iron flowers and smiles

Took some night-time pictures
‘cos the days are oh so short
of the iron flowers out here
in my garden for a thought

For they are really gorgeous
as I think you will agree
and always bring a smile
to us when daily them we see

Positivity

Thinking positivity
something bright for smile
especially as now it seems
it’s lockdown for a while

We need a little brightness
something cheerful each day
to lighten mood and strengthen
if just in a small way

So here’s a little uplifter
in verse as is my gift
which I hope will do just that
for you and bring a lift

HER SMILE ANSWERED

By Charles Robert Lindholm

When
He Whispered
In Her Ear
She Answered With A
Smile

Copyright © Charles Robert Lindholm – The Reluctant Poet
All Rights Reserved -09-18-2020 – 4:30 a.m.

Please come by and have some fun rummaging in my archives – just search
on the Reader for “By Charles Robert Lindholm”

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

Virtual hugs

What I wouldn’t give
for an actual real-life hug
but that’s not to be so when
we meet we smile and shrug
throw wide our arms as always
for a virtual one that’s best
under these cruel circumstances
Covid’s given us to test

My Field

I have a field I go to
every Friday night
It’s mine to run around in
and there’s no-one else in sight
I’m also fairly certain
that no other dogs go there
I’ve certainly never seen one
and I don’t think they would dare