Jasmine tanka

Fragrant with Jasmine
captured in the evening air
The essence of Spring
And here with warmer evenings
embellish the privilege

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

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Bluebell tanka

Bluebells in sunshine
Indicative of April
raise their lovely heads
and with prelude to laughter
dance as Spring looks to Summer

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Lockdown writing III

Late into the night
when sleep does not come
my mind wanders freely
until it is done
Gives me the words
that I pluck from the air
and fashion to paper
with rhythm and flair

For you can take freedom
and prevent me from seeing
but you can’t take the substance
that’s part of my being
So I’ll use this abandon
and give it some form
as the gift of the poet
here pending the norm

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Where I can be free

My feet in the water
in Wellington boots
down on the sea shore
from whence come my roots
The soft wavelets lapping
as the light fades away
and we come here walking
at the end of the day

For this vacant seascape
holds richness and more
which I’ll always treasure
for it I adore
And I’ll never tire
of this vista I see
down by the water
where I can be free

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

With a smile

When night falls in our garden
it seems now as if to us
something magical happens
just like that without fuss

For with the day’s fading
little lights of colour come
transforming there our haven
until the night time’s done

So whether day or darkness
we can sit out there a while
and soak up all the magic there
with whimsey and a smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Riding

I went for a ride
on my bike round the town
The streets were all quiet
with no one around
Just as well though I thought
as it’s not worth the risk
although on my bike
I could get away brisk

For although here the freedom
the riding brings me
I want to stay healthy
and keep virus free
So a ride of an evening
when everything’s still
is sometime I might
and I think often will

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

In the garden

In the garden in the sunshine
sun is warm but there’s a chill
Wondering at the moment
if I won’t or if I will

Perhaps just for a moment
or maybe several more
Wake me if I fall asleep
and you hear a little snore

Perhaps then I will linger
and stay a little longer
as sitting here I do believe
the sun is getting stronger

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Freedom Promise

I had a little dream
about the things I used to do
not so very long ago
but now complete taboo
Simple things like walking out
to town and wandering round
taking pleasure in the things
which in a charity shop I’d found

Or sitting with good friends
in the pub just down the lane
for a couple of pale ales
and a natter and a game
But though these are impossible
at the moment there is hope
that I cling to with a promise
which allows me here to cope

For there will come a time
before the summer’s done
when we can see those things again
and dance out in the sun
So until that time comes round
I will make the most of things
biding time until the day
when freedom once more sings

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Mind’s Eye travelling II

In my mind’s eye I have travelled
to the places I love most
here in lovely Sussex
on the charming Southern coast
Places I can’t visit
in these strange days we are in
but yet I know each one so well
for clear remembering

So though I am restricted
to the places close to home
I can still recall the pleasure
which freedom gives to roam
And with these recollections
I can travel far afield
to the places closest to my heart
above the Sussex Weald

©Jemverse

Photo – the Sussex Weald from Ditchling Down, South Downs, Sussex – Jempics

Lockdown writing II

The comfort I find
at this time of contagion
is the knowledge that here
and of likewise persuasion
other poets like me
have taken to paper
with words that will capture
the gist of this caper

The tragedy yes
but the happiness too
as good human nature
with hope battles through
and comes to the fore
across every land
as poets together
are making a stand

Our words will be steadfast
and wholesome and true
as we live by the hope
that will carry us through
and they’ll capture the essence
of what life’s about
some with a whisper
and some with a shout

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics