Gigsters Divine

Though many bands we've seen
it's been six years since last we all
were collectively 'the gigsters'
at least, as I recall
But last night for Divine Comedy
the 'Gigsters' were united
once again all six together
as each had been invited
'Divine' was most appropriate
as superlative this evening
the 'Gigsters' doing what we do
for friendship's steadfast meaning

©Jemverse

Photo of ‘The Gigsters’ – Mike Dillamore. Divine Comedy gig at Brighton Dome 29.4.22 (That’s me – Jem – in the hat on the end)

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Back to the loop

It was back to the loop
with a whim and a way
as the sun was quite warm
on this late April day
and I was on leave
and the hills were all green
and the chalk of the trail
is the best I have seen
so I put best foot forward
with this walk 'cos it's there
reacquainting myself
with this pleasure to share

©Jemverse

Photo – The South Downs looking west from Mill Hill, West Sussex (start of Jem’s 6-mile loop) – Jempics

Greenship

There's a green ship in the harbour
up the river quite a bit
much further on than usual
so I took a pic of it
Rarely dredged of course these days
the building silt means most
will rarely venture up this far
at Shoreham on the coast
A far cry from my yesterdays
when every berth was full
so good to see the odd one still
with time's incessant pull

©Jemverse

Photo – Shoreham harbour – Jempics

Summer in April

At the end of April, summer
made an early show of hand
as the sun shone warm on Sussex
fair across this pleasant land
So I put a best foot forward
took advantage with no shame
once more into the hedgerow
bordered pathways, trails and lane
Exploring parts of Sussex
I had never been before
in this lovely springtime sunshine
as that's just what it is for

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Celebration

Wagamama's with my girls
midweek, a Tuesday night
feeling rather famished
so to do this was quite right
no particular reason there
but life to celebrate
so really you don't need one
when you've that to satiate
Having said that we all raised a glass
to several things we'd done
all good cause to celebrate
and the reason we'd all come

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Fairwarp Climb

Above the eighteenth century village
through yellow gorse and sand
on the edge of Ashdown Forest
neath shady beech trees grand
we climbed to top of Ashbourne Hill
walked past the airman's grave
silent in memorial
this bright day April gave
then back down through Campfields rough
crossing Small Brown's brook
to conclude this four-mile circle
at the starting path we took

©Jemverse

Photo – climbing Ashbourne Hill (above Fairwarp), North-East Sussex, Good Friday 2022 – Jempics

What life’s for

The Open House, a fine March day
with sunshine bright and warm
joined by all the Crouchers 
and some others per the norm
For we'll not stand on ceremony
and with open arms spread wide
welcome others to it
as we say this name with pride
Friends and family are important
as you'll often hear us shout
as these extra-special moments
are what real life's all about

©Jemverse

The Croucher Clan and several good friends at Brighton’s Open House pub, Mother’s day 2022  –  Photo: Emily Croucher

Circles and drifting

A fine dapper gentleman regal and proud
posed for a picture and stared
Ears at the ready, heightened sense alert
whiskers quivered as his nostrils flared
For this was his field, his fiefdom, his rule
for circles and drifting and more
with his humans in tow he embodied the joy
for the running which all dogs adore

©Jemverse

Photo – Obi Wan Kinobi lording it over ‘Seven-Tree Field’ – Jempics

The silence of ancient walls

Beside old Railway Gardens this old flint wall has stood
built two hundred years ago but still it's looking good
And if its stones could talk and tell the history of the years
of Shoreham since the railway came of all those toils and tears
What a merry tale that would be for us who live
in this town beside the sea and what we wouldn't give
For history books are great to have but the interesting essence
can only come from something that has stood from past to present
So sadly we will never know for these old walls are still
and silent from the years they've seen as they forever will

©Jemverse

Photo – the old walkway, Railway Gardens, Shoreham, West Sussex – Jempics

Biding time

In the grass getting greener
there are dandelions hiding
getting bolder with yellow
but time still abiding
because here just in April
the warmth's still a tease
so they need something more
to be fully at ease

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics