This town of mine

Someone sent a photograph
of how it used to be
Shoreham when I was a lad
Evoked a memory

Bramber

Bramber castle in the rain
just as dusk was falling
walking in the muddy moat
as the night came calling

The tower was quite ethereal
with moonlight shadow cast
An image we’ll remember
as a memory to last

Atmospheric 3

3 of 3 in a Jemverse mini-series

Looking eastwards cross the raging sea
grey clouds above the green
The beach at Lancing here today
amongst the best I’ve seen
That is, I’d say, for quite a while
so fortunate am I
as I can come and witness when
wind blows and waves are high
This beach, this shore in Sussex
wonderful throughout the year
Its glory never lost on me
when I am standing here

Southern England’s voice

At Sea Lane in Goring
breakwaters remain
reaching out to the sea
And this is the Sussex
that speaks loud its voice
and is Southern England to me

Yorkshire

So I’m back up in West Yorkshire
God’s own country so they say
But my preference is for Sussex
which I prefer ‘most any day

Yes, here there are attractions
unique to Yorkshire and the north
But home’s still where the heart is
when one travels back and forth

So I’ll gladly come for business
or to visit for a while
But take me back to Sussex
as it always brings a smile

Sussex Prairies

Sussex Prairies was a find
up near Henfield way
A lovely sculpture garden
on a lovely summer’s day
Yellow flowers in abundance
enjoyed by everyone
exemplified the sculpture
in the glorious August sun
And after cake and cups of tea
we took a new route home
Pleased this place discovered
Somewhere else to us now known

Ditchling Beacon

Ditching Beacon in late summer
with views of Sussex Weald
walking slowly in the heat
cast by the sun’s strong yield

Wolfgang’s with us trotting slow
sniffing here and there
Inquisitive, excited
the moment here to share

By and by we’ll head on home
but an ice-cream first I think
Eating quickly, lest they melt
whilst Wolfgang has a drink

From diamond seas

To the east the seven sisters
to the west the Isle of Wight
around this sweeping Sussex bay
I have within my sight
And in front of me out to the south
the diamond glinting sea
reflecting southern sunshine
is with me here and free

Bignor

Two Roman villas
Two Mondays past
we’ve visited and found several ways
to lose ourselves here
with plenty of cheer
a cure for any malaise

Bignor this time
Mosaics again
under thatch to par excellence
Discovered when farming
at the time quite alarming
in the nineteenth century perchance

Fishbourne

And so it was with Romans
Fishbourne finally today
saw Sal and I this morning
venture out and come this way
England’s mosaic glory
tessellated on the ground
tells a tale of history
when in the sixties found
And now this treasure prospers
revealed for all to see
Especially today for
my soulmate Sal and me

Long Mile Walking

Long Mile walking
Darkening sky
Sun a warm glow in the west
Toe in the water
Cool lapping sea
Smiling at nature’s behest

Sheffield Park II

We wandered fields at Sheffield Park
Wolfgang, Sal and I
Finding paths where no-one trod
beneath a cloudy sky

No sign of rain and very warm
Muggy, I would say
But it seemed to have the best effect
as crowds had stayed away

The Wheel

In Worthing last weekend us two
rode proud on Worthing Wheel
It was massively exciting
and brought a lovely feel
We had three revolutions
it really was a thrill
with views across to Brighton
the sea below quite still

To end a perfect day

To end a perfect day
we walked along the beach
our small dog running free and proud
the sea in easy reach
The shadow of the sun
spread gold across the sky
A fitting end to perfect day
as together we strolled by

Tri-Tanka IV (Lancing Beach)

Once again relaxed
Lancing Beach does that for me
Every single time
The sound of the moving sea
The sight of the ocean waves
And I’m in my element

Drusillas

We went down to Drusillas
for our anniversary
four of us this time, Bezza
Sally, Grace and me
There were parties of schoolchildren
but we made an escape bid
and marched on up ahead of them
so from the masses hid

Sal and I as senior citizens
got cheaper entry too
First time to take advantage
just for asking, as you do
And we made sure that we got there
when it opened on the dot
As that’s always best on days like this
especially when it’s hot

Walking Sussex 3 (revisited)

10 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘Sussex’ series

Slonk Hill circle to the Dyke,
sky surfers with a beer
Much warmer in the sunshine,
filled our hearts with cheer
Cloud cover in the afternoon
but when the sun came out
It was warmer than we’d felt of late,
of that there was no doubt

Sussex shores revisited

9 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘Sussex’ series

Muddy brown midst churning waves
I hear the ocean sing
with yellow skies beneath the grey
and seagulls on the wing
Tumultuous the breakers there
foaming on the beach
the anger of the waters’ voice
staying out of reach
Yet despite that thinly veiled threat
there is beauty here today
the power of these Sussex shores
which take my breath away

Sussex Fields revisited

8 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘Sussex’ series

Sussex fields so
bright and green
nicest that I
think I’ve seen
And when the sun
breaks over hill
I think that they
are nicer still

Walking Sussex 4 (revisited)

7 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘Sussex’ series

Beachy Head to Birling Gap,
the lighthouse red and white
The Seven Sisters rolling cliffs
made an awesome sight
Day four of walking Sussex
and this one by the coast
The hottest day we’ve had so far
and the week is gone, almost.

A Sussex view (revisited)

6 of 10 in the Jemverse “Sussex” series

Sun sets on a winter sea
Golden ‘cross wet sand
as we go walking at low tide
as lovers, hand in hand

Obi’s here of course with us
trotting at our feet
His paws wet in the water
and enjoying this fine treat

Ringing Sussex (revisited)

5 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘Sussex’ series

Today we walked from Ring to Ring
beneath a winter sky
The sun shone bright despite the threat
of rainfall by and by

Plans long laid, fruition saw
a walk unlike no other
With smile and gusto two men went
friends yes, but also brothers

Fair Sussex (revisited)

4 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘Sussex’ series

Green corridors down quite lanes
in Sussex countryside
There’s such a richness to explore
in this place where we reside

We count our blessings every day
No matter where we are
Be it close to home and underfoot
or further out by car

Into Sussex (revisited)

3 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘Sussex’ series

Crossed the border into Sussex
Chalk paths underfoot
Thirty miles behind us
Twenty more to go to boot
Harting Down to Cocking
along the South Downs Way
with the sunshine our companion
on a beautiful Spring day
The hills got ever higher
but the views from every crest
made the challenge so rewarding
When we stopped to have a rest

Walking Sussex 5 (revisited)

2 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘Sussex’ series

Familiarity breeds content,
of that I am quite sure
As for our final walk in Sussex
we’re back at the start for more
Two rings with woodland in between,
cows in the field and sheep
Undulating downland and hills
that aren’t that very steep.
Chanctonbury wealdland view
takes the breath away
And is particularly stunning
on a clear, bright Springtime day
And after five days walking Sussex
hills with Wainwrights at the bar
The rest respite with sunshine
was perfect at the Star.

Found myself in Sussex (revisited)

1 of 10 in the Jemverse ‘Sussex’ series

Found myself in Sussex
in fields of verdant green
Early Spring or Summer
the best that I had seen

Seemed time for adventure
in hills I hold so dear
The ones right on my doorstep
so close and yes, so near

Breakfast on the beach

Down at the beach hut
for bacon and eggs
Early Saturday morn
No-one else here
just us and the sea
on the beach not long after dawn

Gorgeous II

Rustic, these sculptures
turn their heads to the sky
be it grey or bright blue
with clouds floating by

In our garden their splendour
brings pleasure each day
Each unique and quite gorgeous
in their own special way