A treasure revisited

4 of 10 in the ‘Brittle 23’ series from Jemverse

Winter greyness seldom sun
Brittle chill for everyone
Daylight precious shorter now
Nighttime lingers on somehow
Yet still to find and bring some cheer
Despite the chill a beauty here
As winter hides but brings to fore
a treasure kept for us in store

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Of shillings and treasure revisited

6 of 12 in ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

I watched the shilling spinning
it was mine in no small measure
Enough to buy two Matchbox cars
to hold and keep and treasure
The fingers twisted blithely
as they caught and spun again
but I saw no abandon
found no one there to blame

Golden III

There in the silence a single leaf fell
slowly down to the ground
from the tree it had lived on throughout the year
with the slightest whisper of sound
Yet no sadness here, no falling from grace
but exuberant moment of glee
as a new golden treasure shone bright at its best
at the end of its life radiantly

Shoreham my home

Through a gap in the bushes
I spied Shoreham town
nestled there under the Downs
twixt me and the sea
safe there in the lea
the bearer of treasure and crowns

The treasure party

Enriched I am carried
as if on a cloud
to this place of fulfilment
my head duly bowed
For it is with all honour
and privilege here
that I share in this glory
at this time of year

Exuberance

And so into the woodland trail
for an exuberance of gold
this treasure of abundance
now the year is getting old

For times like these I live and breathe
and even though it's chill
my winter coat and long johns
will ensure I catch no ill

Fare more beside this treasure trail
quite free there to partake
is something quite essential
at this time of year to make

Treasures

On the table outside
are memories we treasure
rocks and pebbles from Dorset
hold joy beyond measure

Some fossils, all lovely
some plain and some not
we love every one
and are pleased with the lot

And they're out there for purpose
to get wet in the rain
for then we can see them
as we found them again

Figments

The second of four and the rain
a threat yesterday has arrived
Yet here on the set of November cast
the sun's in my heart and I thrive
For it really is all about seizing the day
and the treasure trove waiting a find
So seldom the time to fret about things
which are mostly figments in mind

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

Lavender by the wall

I didn't plant this lavender
that's growing by the wall
in fact I'm really quite surprised
that it is growing here at all

It must have grown from seed of course
from the crop I grow each year
and a stray stem I must have missed
though I'm careful, let's be clear

To harvest every one of those
as precious they all are
so I'm careful not to miss a one
I'm most particular

This time last year IV

This time last year
the weather was mellow
and in spite of restriction
a fortunate fellow
was able to cycle
out of the trail
as sunsets of gold
were made to regale

Treasure Trove II

I get lost in a good bookshop
they are like a treasure trove
and fortunately Lewes town
has them in spades and droves

So of a Wednesday morning
with the sunshine proving warm
we drove there for a browsing
which for us has been the norm

And in a darkened basement
I found Nirvana waiting there
shelves of ancient volumes
just waiting there to share

their secrets with the reader
who will in their pages find
the treasures that I speak of
for the soul and for the mind

Yes, I get lost in a good bookshop
for with patience and good measure
I know that every time I come
I'll find a waiting treasure.

©Jemverse

Easter Egg Hunt

I’m devising an Easter egg hunt

it’s a giggle

as I had to squeeze into some spots

with a wiggle

too cunningly hide the eggs

with some guile

as my children have been at this

for quite a while

Lucidity

In moments of lucidity
with my eyes open wide
I clearly see what needs to be
out here and from inside
With 20/20 vision
I take a good look all around
absorbing everything I need
from heavens to the ground
And then when I am satisfied
these treasures I will store
for moments of lucidity
when I will see some more

Sun reaching

Caught the end of the sun
and the last golden ray
out over the houses
at the end of the day

It was like a lost treasure
as with arms wide to clasp
to it I reached out
though outside my grasp

Frosted Teazles

The teasels through the fence
had had a frosting overnight
and now in three-tree field
they were caught in pale sunlight
And as the sheep in lower field
paused and looked so I did too
to gaze upon this wonder
well, you would now, wouldn’t you?

Christmas week VI

6 of 7 in the Jemverse ‘Christmas week’ series

T’was the day after Christmas
twenty-sixth of December
and if I say so myself
a one to remember

For this year as we know
has been naff to extreme
the worst one in fact
that the world has yet seen

But despite all the naffness
we have still come together
for the best of good times
we will treasure forever

True Measure

Mesmorised here
I stand in wonder
with bated breath waiting
Lost in a temporary pause
as momentum gathers
for a true measure

Revealing Treasure

The longshore drift moves shingle
as the beaches change their shape
revealing all the treasures
that changing times will make
and particularly pleasing
for an inspiration here
is the old Victorian breakwater
to bring me joy and cheer

Anticipation IV

October winds were howling
when October wasn’t here
as back in late September
I could tell the fall was near
And now the leaves are turning
the green it fades away
as a new season greets us
with each October day

Autumn’s Truth

As warmer months saw evening
a cooler one began
so I set down to capture it
with words because I can

It spoke of golden wondrous things
a priceless treasure where
garnered words would never really
capture it right there

But unconvinced I told it
that as a poet I
had a few tricks yet up my sleeve
that I could here apply

Of shillings and treasure

I watched the shilling spinning
it was mine in no small measure
Enough to buy two Matchbox cars
to hold and keep and treasure
The fingers twisted blithely
as they caught and spun again
but I saw no abandon
found no one there to blame

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

After the small hours

After the small hours we awaken
and with Wolfgang to Alcampo
Parking in our usual space, he leads the way
for he knows this place well
with coffee and conversation and
dog biscuits in a bowl by the bar

Of windows and gold

We have a window
to look to the world
and watch every day
as life is unfurled
For me it’s a garden
as nature’s fair hand
paints changing pictures
of my bit of land

Sunshine have I

No.1 of 8 in ‘The Sunshine series’ from Jemverse

On a train as I travel
at the start of a day
There was a bright sunrise
but now it is grey
There may well be rain
from the overcast sky
as the train speeds me onward
and we hurry by
But I’m not bothered much
as I’ll always have sun
to hold and remember
as each day’s begun

Christmas secret

I’m working on a secret
for the Christmas holiday
Industrious with envelopes
in a mysterious way

No-one knows the secret
It’s safe up in my head
and lips are sealed as rumour
like a Chinese whisper spreads

When the poetry is done

I’ll wrap these words around me
like a comfort blanket they
Calming me and warming
in a very special way

I’ll take these words and scatter
like confetti to the breeze
to celebrate the marriage
of a verse to rhymes like these