Together

We all went up to Bignor Hill
the six of us as one
It wasn’t actually raining
but there wasn’t any sun
Yet none of us we cared one jot
as this was perfect weather
for a long walk in the countryside
the six of us together

With best foot forward

With best foot forward
I take to the hills
following each chalky trail
It’s different each time
and abundantly fine
bring joy every time without fail

Bringing joy

Never fails the trail
regardless of the time
that I have traced my steps up here
when the weather’s fine
Well trod chalk the wayside flower
the blue sky and the sun
combine here in God’s country
bringing joy whene’er I come

Circular

It’s around about six miles
twelve thousand steps or so
a circle up above the town
where to the hills I go
It works in both directions
but the better one I think
is via the park up to Slonk Hill
with pause to take a drink

Happy Place

I’ve found again my happy place
I’ve been away too long
but pleased that I was back again
my heart was filled with song
and beaming as I found my gait
with rhythm in my stride
I laughed and grinned with pleasure there
in Sussex countryside

Of Beacons and Mud

Went for a walk for a birthday
All of us met at the Star
heading off to the Beacon
via Falmer so not all that far
Up through the woods over Stanmer
frolicking under the trees
rained a lot here so the mud was
quite frequently up to our knees

Thoughts of walking

My brother sent a text
reminding me to book
some dates in May when
we’ll take another look
and with a best foot forward
and packs and beating heart
we’ll head into the Sussex hills
another walk to start

Tottington Wood

To Tottington Wood
in the mud and the rain
resolute and determined
we seven we came
And with best foot forward
we entered the trees
squelching through mud
which came up to our knees

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

South Harting

8 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

Up on Harting Down
I saw the folly to the West
It’s lovely here this morning
in bright sunshine, just the best

Then I walked in woodland
sunlight filtered through the trees
Birdsong all around me
Blue sky between the leaves

East Meon

6 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

We climbed back up old Butser Hill
East Meon in the valley
Went west along the hill line
and we didn’t dilly-dally

Walked along the South Downs Way
past ‘Dead Woman’s Gate’
I slowed down a little then
but Dave, he didn’t wait

Itchen Abbas

4 of 8 in the Jemverse ‘Circular Sussex’ series

So we’ve walked in field of violets
and through hawthorn twitters long
to the Plough at Itchen Abbas
where Charles Kingsley wrote a song
“The Water Babies” was his opus
and he stayed here as he wrote
This village here in Hampshire
very quaint and quite remote

The Bishop on the Bridge

2 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

The Bishop on the Bridge
in Winchester town
the Itchen flows swiftly by
And we sit with a beer
in the garden out back
my brother David and I

Circular Sussex

It’s that time of year
the bags are all packed
the walking boots firm on my feet
My brother and me
with hearts full of glee
are off for our annual treat

Walking and Uno

This week accommodation
was booked for us in May
when my brother Dave and I
have our walking holiday
Once more the South Downs beckon
here in Sussex where we live
And we’ll be out there walking
as they have so much to give

The Bull

Went for a walk up on Mill Hill
and met some scary sheep
But although we had due warning
it was the bull that made us weep

For he was really jolly big
as nervously we trod
around him fairly gingerly
on Sussex chalkland sod

Ardingly Reservoir Walk

We wandered round the reservoir
My brother Dave and me
A little different from the hills
for change of scenery

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.

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