Shadows

I watch my shadow from noon to dusk,
Ever growing in size and lust,
Making me taller than a redwood tree
And stretching the limit of what I can be.

Until the fading sun falls all the way down
And I am beyond the starry lights of town.
Now lost and one with the black nothingness
I am left to mourn my colossal, black hubris.

I kick a stone as I walk home alone,
Struggling to forget the hope I was shown
And accept that I am an ego confined by flesh:
A spirit trapped, and a man depressed.

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Flower

I held a flower in my hand
Delicate, whole, perfect

Beacon

The day was full of sunshine
as we headed out, day three
of our walks on hills of Sussex
my brother Dave and me
This time to Ditchling Beacon
climbing chalky paths and hill
then into shady valleys
where the air was calm and still

Rodmell

We climbed up to Firle Beacon
(It was really windy there)
and its wasn’t from the beans we’d had
for breakfast, to be fair!
The views across fair Sussex
were magnificent to see
on this second day of walking
for my brother Dave and me
And then downhill to Rodmell
in the valley of the Ouse
for well earned respite at the pub
followed by a snooze

Alfriston

We traversed Seven Sisters
high cliffs above the sea
Clear blues skies and sunshine
my brother Dave and me
There were lots of foreign students
around the tourist traps
but we left them all behind us
as we walked on, us two chaps

Eastbourne

Woke up to a morning
with zero chance of rain
Another perfect day
for our walkings once again
Starting here in Eastbourne
with the sun on deep blue sea
the day is full of promise
for my brother, Dave and me

The South Downs Way

To the South Downs Way
the brothers return again
retreading their steps

©Jemverse

A song for the way

5 of 5 in the Jemverse ’31’ series

We lost sight of our accordion player
as we wandered, singing our song
But he was just lagging behind us
as we slowly ambled along

So, reaching the base of escarpment
Fulking Village just ahead there to find
We turned and up there high above us
we found him in the sunshine

Fulking

4 of 5 in the Jemverse ’31’ series

n the valley lies Fulking
down there in the Weald
amidst all the green
of fallow and field
Destination today
as we wander along
all full of good spirits
and bursting to song

Tradition

3 of 5 in the Jemverse ’31’ series

It’s becoming a tradition
as this is the second year
February seventeen
and a walk to have a beer
We’re spoilt for choice in Sussex
with the hills to take us there
So here’s to many more years still
this special day to share

Piper in the Weald

1 of 5 in the Jemverse ’31’ series

Heading down Fulking Escarpment
with a piper to herald the way
The entourage headed down to the pub
on this lovely February day
The view of the Weald was breathtaking
as it always is in the sun
The company laughing and happy
and having plenty of fun

Walkways

The hollow sound of steps on concrete
as I move through quiet halls,
walking with a mood of purpose,
striding forward without pall.

Woodland Path

Puddles and pools of sunlight slide between the tree trunks
While shadows stripe the root strutted path
Somewhere above in the blue

A Christmas Eve walk

The day of the eve before Christmas
and all of us out for a walk
Taking in Sussex, the river and downs
for a jolly good laugh and a talk

Conversing about the things we have done
whilst out in the fair countryside
Dusting off cobwebs, eight miles or so
Family and friends to confide

High Hilled Moor

Fog rose out of the valley
Where Hoar Oak Water runs
Swarmed up onto our hill path
Rose further to blot the sun

I’ve A Friend Called Firefly

I’ve a friend I call Firefly, for reasons I’ve explained,
and we take nightly walks together,
but mostly in dreams.

We wax and wane the philosophical, two cerebral beetles
stepping lively over the cobblestone,
making deliberation of the gods of Serendipity, Accident, Judgement,
lifting up our hands to brush the coniferous needles
pushed to their limits by the cold autumn
now wintered.

Adventure Planning

Around about this time of year
my brother Dave and me
Take maps and pens and paper
to our local hostelry
And there we’ll plan adventures
whilst sharing a fine ale
Recalling all we’ve had before
with memories to regale

Stretching

The big oaks at the corner
stretch their leaves to gather the evening sun.

Little Bridge

Fording ‘cross a gentle stream
at the bottom of the field
Down some steps cut to the bank
a little bridge revealed

A wander, some mud and the Ring

Walking up from Washington
in excellent company
The South Downs up above us
so we’ve plenty here to see
And the rain that fell here overnight
has gone and in good time
For our wanderings this morning
as the weather’s dry and fine

Ridgeway

Tombs, forts and settlements
String the Ridgeway
As beads on a necklace
Testifying to ancient use

Fosbury Fort

Skylarks sing and soar
We walk encircling ramparts
Gazing at the still deep ditch

Day Five (Alfriston to Eastbourne)

And just when we needed the sunshine
there it was just like a friend
to enrich us and encourage
and spur us to the end

Day Four (Rodmell to Alfriston)

Arriving here at Alfriston
we found the Smugglers Inne
A sixteenth century ale house
for the sale of beer and gin
And although it’s not imposing
many secrets here it hides
for behind its small exterior
more than twenty rooms inside

Day three (Ditchling Beacon to Rodmell)

And if I thought the views I’d seen
were the best that Sussex had
The ones I saw today notched
things up more than a tad
For the ones across the valley
where the Ouse flows to the sea
were almost overwhelming
as we walked, my Bro and me

Day Two (Truleigh Hill to Ditching Beacon)

I guess around this time of year
there really has to be
a shot of bluebells in the woods
for they’re wonderful to see

Day One (Washington to Truleigh)

The view from the top
of Chanctonbury Hill
looking north into Sussex
is beautiful still

Long Awaited

A day long awaited
arrives and I’m ready
Gear is all packed
and weather looks steady
Dry bags for the rain
if it comes just in case
But I’m hoping that they
will remain in their place