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

Stories from ‘The Dreaming Sites’

Emily Kame Kngwarreye
loved colour with a passion
with acrylic paint to canvas
like it was going out of fashion
and in eight years to an end of life
she captured there ‘the dreaming’
three thousand plus enlightenments
and each with hidden meaning

For when winter is done

A shaft of the sun
hit our north-facing garden
with a word just to say
for a beg of my pardon
A brief glimpse of promise
when the winter is over
and the sun is back out there
for days bathed in clover

I know what I am

I know what I am
and I’m comfortable with it
Yes I have regrets
but they’ll not make me fidget
For I am just me
and you get what you get
so it’s probably best
to accept and not fret
And I hope when you find
what being me means

When it’s safe

When it’s safe I will be out there
in the Sussex I hold dear
on the byways and the beach
where the air is ever clear

When it’s safe I will have music
live and loud as it should be
with songs that sing of life
which will then be Covid-free

When it’s safe I will be hugged
and will hug my loved ones too
replenishing that feeling
of the love I long to do

The beauty of a tree

Silhouetted in the sun
the tree in centre field
stands proud of the water
and looks out to the Weald

And out here east of Steyning
on this lovely winter day
I felt so glad to be alive
I shouted loud ‘hooray’!

Life is made for moments
like this, singular and free
especially when confronted by
the beauty of a tree

Sunshine days

Sunshine days are wonderful
especially ones I’m in
which of course I mostly am
as witnessed by the grin

For it’s as wide as wide can be
as the face it’s in look high
to find the warming golden one
with deep contented sigh

Baking

Thought I’d do some baking
not baked in quite a while
as after all a fresh new loaf
is bound to bring a smile
So I found all the ingredients
and kneaded it and proved
then floured it and dusted
with the washing-up removed
Then with half an hour’s baking
a new loaf proudly stood
bringing with it satisfaction
and the smile I knew it would

For the bringing of joy

A song which brings a tingle
Grayson Perry on TV
two little things in life
which bring joie de vivre to me

Something coloured yellow
Yaki Udon, ginger spice
A really lovely beer
Marmite crisps (they’re very nice)

Oranges

Vibrant these oranges
capture the light
looking lovely for photos
and my appetite
But for this still life
I have to confess
that the picture you see
is one orange less

Days Passing

These days each day is similar
but I don’t really mind
as there is much to occupy
and fill them all I find
I rise at four when it’s still dark
and spend an hour writing
updating all my poetry blogs
which I find quite exciting
Then weekdays I will work through two
on my window to the world
my laptop there connected
for daily tasks unfurled

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?

For bliss

Ice cold here yet beautiful
Jack’s frosted strands they cling
with brittle fronds of loveliness
to cover everything
Too cold to stand here very long
yet there is time for this
rare spectacle of wonder
at this time of year for bliss

Over Brighton Tonight

A sky atmospheric
over Brighton tonight
met us on the beach
reflecting the light

Spectacular was
the view there that we
had to pause for a while
by the night-blackened sea

With all that you read here

It didn’t trouble Wordsworth
or Longfellow or Dahl
as I’m sure when they were writing
you would never hear a snarl

So I won’t let it trouble me
for there is much in life
to write some joyful lines about
avoiding all the strife

So here to make that very point
though I’ll need to be quite snappy
are several lines to bring a smile
and leave you feeling happy

They said there’d be snow (again)

10 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

They said there’d be snow
Well, its cold enough
and there’s frost over all every day
But the sea air down here
on these southern shores
always seems to get well in the way

All is white again

9 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

I wrap up warm against the cold
I feel it now I’m getting old
There’s white on everything around
The air is crystal n’er a sound.

Suppress a shiver to the chill
I take this in and have my fill
For only winter brings this sight
This wonderment when all is white

Tri-haiku XI (winter blue returns)

8 of 10 in ‘The Winter series’ from Jemverse

I am winter blue
Born to December, I chill
to iron cold bone

I am winter blue
To brittle January
icy fingers spread

I am winter blue
But with yellow I will change
to the green of Spring

The safe warmth of home again

7 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

Steel grey seas with iron chill
it’s with whimsy that I peer
at the beach I know so well
in summer brings such cheer

Yet now the winter’s icy hand
has me firmly in its grip
As grey green waters frenzied churn
with northern winds are whipped

So I with best foot forward
march swiftly ‘cross these stones
No lingering in winter times
for the safe warmth of home

Winter with me now (again)

6 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

Eight line stanza thinking of
the winter with me now
Brittle chill, not warming sun
cold upon my brow
But dressed up warm it’s good to brace
the iron winter chill
for as it passes Springtime looms
and ever closer still

Winter days again

5 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

These cold weekends of winter
keep us warm indoors most days
For it is frigid out there
devoid of warming rays

So we’d rather stay here snug and warm
with music, books and cheer
in our jumpers and our slippers
our staple winter gear

The winter bully returns

4 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

Breath escapes in tiny clouds
a whisper to the chill
as icy iron fingers grab
and hassle me at will

I’m minding my own business
A summer’s child adrift
Lost in this cold wilderness
and feeling somewhat miffed

Sunshine like water (again)

3 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

Like water the sunshine, diluted and pale
greets this cold winter’s day
Its warmth has long gone and despite a brave face
Its exuberance has faded away
But its low zenith in the January sky
brings a glare from its fragility
Highlighting a beauty in all it shines on
which is very pleasing to me

Winter’s smile again

2 of 10 in ‘The winter series’ from Jemverse

There’s a crystalline clarity out here today
in the trees there over the way
A ground frost has visited the fields overnight
And it’s more beautiful than I can say

So I’ll not waste my words and contented instead
Just quietly stand here awhile
Allow winter’s wonder to embellish again
with a picture in mind for a smile

Thinking of summer when cold returns

1 of 10 in ‘The Winter Series’ from Jemverse

When it’s cold in the winter
I will look to the sun
and think back to the summer
as I have always done
Back to the days
of whimsy and breeze
when a cool wisp is welcome
rustling quiet through the leaves

The world outside my window

The world outside my window
changes by the day
Sometimes it’s bright and sunny
and other times there’s rain

South facing from the east
I can see the rising sun
and later on out to the west
the glow when it is done

The wisdom of the sea

The water looked like crystal
as it sparkled in the sun
Like glass its light refracted
for a New Year just begun

A ‘je ne sais quoi’ said something
as a whisper silently
caught and carried by the breeze
across the windless sea

I think it was a promise
though I’m not completely sure
so I will come here every day
to listen out for more

Beginning V

5 of 12 in the Jemverse series ’12 months IV’

To the New Year a promise
here made to ones self
to remain true to form
and with all of my wealth
to capture from life
one day at a time
its essence in words
and transpose to line