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

Back to the beach hut

Got back to the beach hut
it’s been quite a while
so it’s good to be back
at the place with a smile
The wind was quite blowy
but the sunshine was out
and because of the wind
there was no-one about

Affirmation

Spent the day with family and Wolf
out in the bright summer sun
with social distancing observed as you do
for good conversation and fun

It almost felt normal and was for one thing
as we couldn’t get close for a hug
but even for that we’ve developed a thing
which we smile as we do with a shrug

With a smile

When night falls in our garden
it seems now as if to us
something magical happens
just like that without fuss

For with the day’s fading
little lights of colour come
transforming there our haven
until the night time’s done

Sedoka week IV (Wednesday)

4 of 7

Holding close that thought
the curl of a smile takes hold
and turns into laughter loud
there in the face of
menacing adversity
I stand proud and tall and firm

Lifting II

I’m thinking of a song I heard
one that brought a grin
for that is what I need right now
with the state I’m in
I’m trying hard, don’t get me wrong
and I know I’m not alone
as there are many others out there
who like me must stay at home
But it’s hard remaining positive
so I need a helping hand
provided by a favourite song
sung by a favourite band

Sunshine as a friend

Yellow, warming
lifts my soul
Catches, comforts
makes me whole
Brings a shoulder
to console
the sunshine as a friend

Weekends II

So another week passes
and reaches its end
with two days of rest
waiting there like a friend
Arms open wide with
a smile on its face
it welcomes you in
and slows down the pace
Makes you a coffee
or a hot cup of tea
relaxing as always
and totally free

In pictures

I’ve been looking through my pictures
as I do from time to time
at photos I have taken
in the sunshine when it’s fine
others taken in the rain
or when walking by the sea
or up there on the Sussex hills
all precious here to me

Rearranging

Every so often my soulmate and me
feel like a bit of a change
So oft with a plan
we’ll move things around
and the furniture we’ll rearrange

Like rainbows

Words fell like rainbows
brightening up my day
their colour exacting but fine
and what’s more I realised
there with a smile
these words were entirely mine

It felt like Spring

It felt like Spring
through I knew that it wasn’t
outside in the garden today
as down near the ground
green shoots were around
with colour now well on its way

In times such as these

A long shaft of sunlight
peirced the gloom
and lit up an otherwise
darkly clad room
It spoke of a promise
born on a smile
with a voice full of hope
I’d not heard in a while

An ode to Summer

3 of 4

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

An ode to Spring

2 of 4

Winter’s grey-cast clouds have passed
and Summer’s child is here
to bring us hope and merriment
and fill our hearts with cheer
This child is full of freedom
speaking freshly of the truth
which every year around this time
gives nature’s hand its youth
Summer’s child will not stay long
but with a flair and fling
as seasons through the years have sung
for Summer’s child is Spring

An ode to Winter

1 of 4

Crystalline clarity out there today
in the treeline over the way
A frosting has covered the fields overnight
with beauty mere words can’t portray
So I’ll not waste them here but contented instead
I’ll quietly stand here for a while
and let Winter’s wonder embellish instead
that picture in mind for a smile