Red II

Surrounded by Autumn
I saw red and a tear trickled
But no malice here
No discontent
For here beauty’s extravagance
in simplicity lay
Inspiring a tear
for the red of summer
spilled at my feet

©Jemverse

Four words

In the still small hours
there is quietness to listen
with just the sound of the rain
through windows than glisten

It is time to take stock
with reflection and pleasure
of the things I am proud of
those of substance and measure

I have little purpose
for the things that purport
to act as a hindrance
with little support

I have no interest in these
and am constantly shunning
the miserable things
to replace with the stunning

©Jemverse

Harry, the owner of the Poet’s Corner page to which I regularly contribute, sets periodic ‘poetry challenges’. The challenge set on 27 October simply asked us to write a poem which included four words – glisten, measure, support and stunning.

Home II

Crossing the bridge of a morning
the river reaching down to the sea
With boats there at rest, a reminder
that this is just where I wanted to be

Its meandering tidal waters
change with each ebb and each flow
And with the silver band of the sea out there
there is no place that I’d rather go

This is Shoreham-by-Sea in Sussex
and of everywhere else I have known
It has everything I’ve always wanted
so I’m proud to call it my home

©Jemverse

 

Summer in late Autumn

Looking down to Stanmer House
across the open field
You’d be forgiven for mistaking
the day to be from summer’s yield

Long shadows of late evening
from a warm and balmy day
Sometime in early summer
Perhaps at the end of May?

But no, this is October
with November closing in
Long shows of mid afternoon
with Autumn in full swing

Yet here we are in shirtsleeves
with the sun warm in the sky
No gloves or hats are needed
as we amble slowly by

Perhaps this is a rarity
but there’s no complaining here
For these days of Autumn sunshine
will always bring good cheer

©Jemverse

The simple things

We’ve been here before
but the effect is the same
In this place we come back to
again and again
A long tunnel of trees
with sunlight ahead
And the fragrance of forest
in the paths we have led

Following dark trails
to see where they lead
With no quickness of pace
or desire for great speed
With the crisp crunch of bracken
beneath our footfall
and the mystery of woodland
surrounding us all

Finding pleasure with the simple
effects of the light
as it shines through the branches
Quite a beautiful sight
Then discovering a glade
bathed in light from the sun
before retracing our steps
back the way we have come

Watching the leaves
tumble down through the air
to form blankets of cover
on woodland floors there
This place exudes peace
and a comfort and calm
It is soothing and restful
with restorative balm

So we’ll come back again
to this magical place
To see more of the woodland
and its mysterious space
For the pleasure it brings
and quite simply because
It will always be waiting
with a welcome for us

©Jemverse

Portrait of Autumn

With magenta and pink
and purple and red
and yellow and orange
and vermillion instead
of olive and emerald
viridian and teal
basil and mantis
and green to reveal
a changing of palette
right there on the hill
for a portrait of Autumn
on fresh canvas to fill

©Jemverse

Leaves falling

Today there are leaves falling
It is time for fleeces
and hot cocoa and open fires
Long walks in crisp air with
a quickening stride
and fleeting looks
Soon there’ll be clouds
as breath escapes in silent
sharp whispers and
mittened hands clap out
the beat and rhythm
of a creeping cold
But not today
Today there are leaves falling

©Jemverse

The rollercoaster ride

In the razor sharp clarity
of a crisp autumn morn
An erudite moment
of instinct was born
A momentary feeling
captured and held
Crystallised into form
to fashion and meld

In these days of uncertainty
moments like these
Akin to the feeling
of a warm summer breeze
Are the ones that will shape
and strengthen the mind
Providing foundation
with purpose to find

Life’s a rollercoaster ride
with its up and its downs
But when the scary bit’s over
Our laughs replace frowns
So when clarity comes
and the purpose is clear
The ride’s there to enjoy
With nothing to fear.

©Jemverse

 

Just Walking

Comfort of the ever moving sea
Always waiting there for me
Removes the cobwebs, keeps me free
Just walking on the beach

Familiar the shingle there
Finding things to keep and share
The crunching sound beyond compare
Just walking on the beach

Sunsets on an ebbing tide
Crossing sands remote and wide
Memories there that will abide
Just walking on the beach

©Jemverse

Mile Oak

Nestled underneath the downs
Mile Oak paves the way
So many opportunities
to choose from every day
We could take the path to Truleigh
climbing steep beside the field
Before things level out at Fulking
with fine views across the Weald

Or we could choose the little roundabout
The short circle to the farm
A little amble, short and sweet
with no hills to bring alarm
We could head up to the South Downs Way
and join it for a while
Head west towards the famous Ring
or west o’er fence and stile

Or we could simply sit and chat
Make friends with the donkey
Watch the ducks and chickens
with nice cake and cups of tea
Mile Oak has all this and more
It’s a very special place
One we’ll return to often
and our footsteps there retrace

©Jemverse