Idyllic II

And in this patch of England
idyllic by the lake
a little slice of heaven
on this evening we will make
Sunshine setting, shadows long
with stillness to the air
we stand and simply marvel
whilst a nightingale sings there

©Jemverse

Photo – from Emily Rose Croucher

Not that far

Walking to the beach hut
it's not so very far
but the view along the waterside
is quite spectacular
There's sunshine on the water
and though some clouds are grey
it's very warm and pleasant 
on this lovely summer day

By and by I'll sit me down
on the beach I call a friend
outside my haven beach hut
until the day has reached its end
And then I'll wander home again
back beside the sea
watching as the evening falls 
on this fair soliloquy

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The Plan (part VI)

No.6 in the continuing Jemverse ‘Allotment’ series 

For the first time I sat back
and knew that 'we'd done good'
at our allotment established
as we'd hoped that it would

And now we can harvest
the produce and fayre
of the things we have laboured
for and groom right there

And keep up the momentum
to see it prosper and grow
and keep on producing
with grandeur to show

Our Ham Field allotment
for pleasure and more
from the toils of our labours
to a place we adore

Yes 'we've done good' and
we're really quite pleased
as the plan's come together 
from the idea conceived

And now it's with a smile
we can look at our land
and know that it's ours
all that loveliness, grand

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

‘The Plan (part VI)’ is part of a continuing Jemverse series charting the rejuvenation of our Ham Field, Shoreham allotment in 2021 and beyond. For previous outings see ‘Back to the Allotment‘, ‘The Plan (Part II)‘, ‘The Plan (part III)‘, ‘Beginning IX (aka ‘The Plan (part IV))‘, and ‘The Plan (part V)‘ 

Ubi Sunt

As a boy these docks, this harbour
was a playground for adventure
fascination for a mystery
with no interest in debenture
Freedom then to roam and play
in summers with no ending
gave birth to a long love affair
with Sussex there befriending

But that was a long time ago
and though docklands here remain
the yearning for adventure
I have long learned to refrain
Transitory was that time
yet still there's vestige here
with sun-bleached memories of my youth
rekindled by the year

The harbour may have changed yet I
am still that boy at heart
and though six decades since have passed
we're scarcely now apart
Yes transitory the passing
yet somehow just the same
as every time I pass I hear
the calling of my name

©Jemverse

Photo – Shoreham Harbour from the ‘Albert Dock’, Sussex, UK – Jempics

An ‘Ubi Sunt’ is a verse form in which the poem or its stanzas begin with the Latin words “…Ubi Sunt…” (Where are…) or their equivalent in another language, and which has as a principal theme the transitory nature of things.

This Jemverse ‘Ubi Sunt’ is dedicated to Frank Hubeny and ‘Another Fearless Year’ (aka Linda Kruschker) from whom the inspiration to write it came.

Henfield Skies

This evening view from Henfield
to the distant Sussex hills
beneath a big sky canopy
is made for signs and thrills

Magnificent the blue and green
tinged golden by the sun
simply takes the breath away
as gazing here I'm stunned

And so I simply breathe it in
this view to satisfy
as evening settles on Sussex
and time rolls slowly by

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Seven Trees

In 'Seven Tree Field' whence we come week by week
I've been taking picture of trees
as all seasons come
and the changes are done
of the wonder my camera lens sees

Fascination is there of the wonder and all
to capture and hold and to love
of nature's fine hand
in these tall trees grand
which I see as I look high above

And at the end of the year when the seasons are done
I'll revisit the photos I've snapped
and pick out the best
from all of the rest
to keep all the memories intact

©Jemverse

Photo – ‘Seven Tree Field, New Wharf Farm, Ashurst, West Sussex, UK – Jempics

Summer in abandon

Summer in abandon
grey and rainy every day
sometimes very windy
and quite miserable I'll say
The sun has gone on holiday
and left us quite alone
which isn't very thoughtful
as we're still stuck at home

So long days lounging on the beach
are absent at this time
as are evenings out the back
with a warm glass of wine
But just around the corner
August waits with bated breath
so perhaps there is a glimmer
for us here, the bereft

For though we all may grumble
it's amazing how the sun
shows how short the memory
is in everyone
Fickle we may be, but hey
it's summer after all
and it's not that much to ask
so 'sunshine' hear the call!

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Last brunch

Last brunch today so IPA
featured as it should
along with a veggie breakfast
from the menu which looked good
Shared with jocund company
conversation for a smile
here at our Al Campo
where we come once in a while

©Jemverse

Photo – Al Campo, Brighton (a gastro bar/cafe/restaurant) – Jempics

That lavender time again VI

Every year my lavender
features on this day
The twenty-third of each July
no matter, come what may

For this as each year passes
is that lavender time again
celebrating harvest time
from sunshine and the rain

And culminating in
this fragrance so divine
which comes from all the lavender
I pick around this time

©Jemverse

Photo – one of my 2021 lavender harvests in my Sussex Trug – Jempics

‘That lavender time again’ is a theme recurring on an annual basis when, on 23rd July, I publish a new poem in the series. Here are trackbacks to the previous outings – (2020), (2019), (2018), (2017) & (2016)

Short back and sides

Gave the back garden
a bit of a trim
as it's amazing how quickly
the state it gets in
So the bushes out there
got a short back and sides
to give us more light
as each evening provides

And that is a factor
the later we get
and the shorter the day
and the quicker sunset
For the evenings are shorter
so the light up the top
is much better now
as it's had a good crop

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics