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

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

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

Summer’s swansong II

On this September morning
sunshine greeted me again
and as this could be the summer's swansong
no one could lay the blame
if today instead of working
to the beach I went instead
to seize the opportunity
and by my heart be led

I am the beach

Days like today
may be short lived indeed
but they're part of my rhythm
and part of my creed
For I am the beach
and the beach is all me
as part of my essence
is to be by the sea

Last rays

We've a bench out the front which will catch the last rays
of the sun as it sets in the west
and though the view we get there is not very good
the warmth of the sun is the best

So I'll sit there a while when the evenings draw in
and, north-facing, the garden's in shade
so pleased that we've kept our front garden bench
as with foresight best plans are made

September sun heat

September sun heat
no denial of fact
twenty-five degrees celsius
attesting to that
So it was back to the beach
to sit in the sun
at Saturday teatime
til evening was come

Sunshine through the V

Caught in the early evening sunshine
through the seventh tree
shining down on this fine field
and captured in the vee

Idyllic are these walks we have
each weekend at this time
an perfect be it raining
or, on days like this, just fine

And the winking of the sunshine
as I caught its setting rays
encapsulates the pleasure
we both get upon these days

One I

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

One for the first day
now of September
but it's still summer here
something to remember

A day in August

And just as I thought 'It's cooler today'
the sun put its hat on and said
"I'll have none of that, here's the summer you need"
and shone down warm on my head

So I gave it a wave with a nonchalant glance
which I knew it would see by the way
as I settled down to the summer I knew
on this lovely warm August day

Shadowplay II

I played with my shadow
in the evening sunshine
it gave me a wave
so I knew it was mine

We both laughed aloud
at the shapes we made there
and didn't much mind
if it made people stare

But as the sun slipped down low
we bade fond adieu
as we know we'll be back
well you would, wouldn't you?

Down to the beach

I came down to the beach
after a long and arduous day
the sunshine still quite high
and quite hot still I would say

I walked the four miles there
with my AirPods in my ears
listening to Underworld
as I have done for years

Not that far

Walking to the beach hut
it's not so very far
but the view along the waterside
is quite spectacular
There's sunshine on the water
and though some clouds are grey
it's very warm and pleasant 
on this lovely summer day

By and by I'll sit me down
on the beach I call a friend
outside my haven beach hut
until the day has reached its end
And then I'll wander home again
back beside the sea
watching as the evening falls 
on this fair soliloquy

Sunshine Bright (revisited) II

Concluding the Jemverse ‘Summer 21’ series (10 of 10)

Dawning bright, I know you well
you are a friend of mine
Always welcome, never shunned
the warming bright sunshine
I smile upon your dazzling face
I squint into your glare
And always come alive a bit
whenever you are there

Encouraging the sun (revisited)

8 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘Summer 21’ series

Fragile and fleeting
a delicate sun
Kissed a few flowers
and then it was done

Hiding behind
a dark wall of grey
It bid me farewell
and was gone for the day

But I wasn’t having
any of that
So I frantically waved
and bid it come back

The golden hour

The golden of the evening
is a lovely thing to see
glistening on forsythia
and shining off its leaves

Particularly through the strands
of our new sunscreen door
colourful it gently sways
which is what we bought it for

And there is birdsong out there
as the sunset it arrives
a joyful song to end the day
and the pleasure it derives

Little yellow

Little yellow very lovely
dainty in the sun
at the bottom of my garden
now the summer has begun

It catches my attention
every time I pass it by
and it's so very gorgeous
that it brings a tear to eye

Tears of joy lest you should worry
for that's what yellows bring
the colour of the sunshine
and 'cos yellow is my thing

So good the sun

So good to feel the sun again
and let its warmth envelope me
as I lie down and drift away
at ease and blissfully

So good to see the good it's done
to grass and bush and tree
as growth abundant blossoms
quite unequivocally

Sunshine VII

Thought I'd missed the sunshine
but thank goodness there it was
the sunspot in the garden
in full sun still there because
although we are north-facing
the setting in the West
gives sunshine in the garden
until six o'clock at best

Heatwave

It's been one of those sultry days
that summer sometimes brings
when the sunshine burns intensely
with heat haze shimmerings
and though it's now past five o'clock
there's little respite here
so I feel quite contented
to pour a nice cold beer
And with mock orange fragrance
heady in the air
sit here a little longer
the evening sun to share

Abundantly clear

And this morning
the glorious sunshine pervaded
so wondrously
that I was persuaded
though it didn't take much
it the truth be told
as when one is faced
by mornings of gold
it is really and truly
abundantly clear
that June has arrived
and the summer is here

Tri-haiku XXXIII (Heaven)

Afternoon sunshine
in June, deliciously hot
I am in heaven

But it is a place
on earth, as Belinda said
and she was quite right

Nowhere else I would
further be this afternoon
than right here right now

Monday lunchtimes

Monday lunchtimes at Al Campo
watching life go past
the windows open to the world
with summer here at last

The sunshine's really hot out there
but no one is complaining
as the start of summers' overdue
from all the Maytime raining

Through the trees

Evening sunshine through the trees
the Warren shaded now
but I still feel the sunshine
so warm upon my brow

It has been one of those balmy days
that only summer brings
and conjures up those feelings
that pull at old heart strings

Promenading

Walked along the promenade
from Hove to Brighton town
the sunshine warm with summer
come to take away the frown

Very many people there
all walking in the sun
celebrating here in unison
that summer's truly come

The sea reflected blue of sky
the breeze a whisper there
the mood one of exuberance
in which we all could share

And as we ambled there we six
in jocund company
enjoyed our promenading
in Sussex by the sea

Chillin

There's a ship sailing by
and a gull on the wing
and the sun in the sky
gives a reason to sing

And there's really no reason
to move for a while
as we can sit here
with a beer and a smile

And just watch the sea
and soak up the vibe
at this place on the beach
by the blue ocean wide

Rockwater

At Rockwater for brunch
overlooking the sea
with sunshine and Sal
the children and me
The summer's arrived
and exquisite the place
evidenced here
by the smile on the face
of everyone here
as they chat and just be
on the seafront in Hove
by the blue of the sea