One XI

11 of 12 in the ’12 months V’ series from Jemverse

With 'Dog Days' just beginning
July the first is here
for long hot days of summer
the ones I most revere
A child of summer born and bred
these are the days for me
getting browner in the sunshine
on the beach beside the sea

In the sun II

Wolfgang on the garden bench
panting in the sun
whilst I sit down relaxing
now my working week is done
The warmth today is growing
so whilst I am sitting here
he's given his permission
for me to have a nice cold beer

Overgrown

The grass on the allotment
was very long indeed
the no-dig plots were overgrown
and needed thorough weed
but after we had strimmed it
it once again took shape
so I don't thinks it will be
too long now til we make
it start to grow some produce
for our table and for more
to brighten up this place
which both Sal and I adore

One IX

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

Maybe May will find me
on the beach once more
as warmer days get warmer
and summer waits in store
Maybe May will be the one
to see those doors flung wide
for long days in the sunshine
no more the place to hide
Maybe May will see these things
as they're the thing to do
for the fifth month and summer
are quite symbiotic too

Summer in April

At the end of April, summer
made an early show of hand
as the sun shone warm on Sussex
fair across this pleasant land
So I put a best foot forward
took advantage with no shame
once more into the hedgerow
bordered pathways, trails and lane
Exploring parts of Sussex
I had never been before
in this lovely springtime sunshine
as that's just what it is for

Small yellow II

Small yellow in my garden
at the bottom in the sun
caught my eye this morning
now the winter time is done
I don't what its name is
but it grows here every year
yellow in Spring sunshine
so for me has purpose clear
It's there to play a rhythm
to accompany the song
that rises with crescendo
to play all summer long

First Daisy II

First daisy down there
in the grass
waiting for me
as I passed
Radient with sunshine flare
I took a pic
to onward share
and with the green
a painting framed
as gilt-edged it
the Springtime named

Sunshine XII (tanaga)

Found a pool of golden sun
knew that Spring had now begun
and I'd once more found the one
proving winter blues are done

Sunshine XI (bussokuseki)

Here I am, smitten
once again head over heels
a poor Romeo
with the beauty of your face
and the radiance around
as throughout each day you tread

Sunshine X (dalit)

Golden, you are magnificent
Humbled, I squint in your presence
and lay prostrate beneath your warmth
to revel in the glory here

Sunshine IX (jemaiku)

It is just like a tonic
one full to the brim
with magical qualities
to restore the soul
and rekindle brighter things
for more tomorrows

Sunshine VIII (katauta)

And so for Tuesday
more of this lovely sunshine
to warm the cockles of hearts

Heatwave III

The weatherman tells me a heatwave is here
for much warmer days so outside with a beer
I think I will sit for the first time this year
as it's something I need to replenish the cheer
And the sunshine will warm me as each day dawns clear
and blue skies not grey above me appear
and the blues of the winter swiftly disappear
replaced by the warmth summer's child to endear

One VI

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

February's here in twenty two
another month slips by
thirty-one days already gone
in the mere blink of eye
But I'm not wishing time away
for the light is stronger here
and days are getting longer
to promise Springtime cheer
Not that winter yet is done
the cold it lingers on
but the sun is climbing higher
as each month comes round to one

Tri-haiku XXXV (the sun, hooray)

And here for Sunday
the sun still has its hat on
Hip, hip, hip hooray

Golden for autumn
it still shines yellow and warm
Hip, hip, hip hooray

Shining still brightly
it stays and it continues
Hip, hip, hip hooray

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