Back to a fall from grace III

3 of 12 in the ‘About Brighton’ series

I found it on the high tide line
after a night of fire
the grand old lady of the sea
destroyed by spite and ire
Never proved but always known
her final hours presumed
the work of arsonists with flame
the pier now lost, consumed

Yet carried on an ebbing tide
along the coast to me
a memory of those boards I trod
now rescued from the sea
And though her grandeur now has gone
complete her fall from grace
Brighton’s West Pier always will
in history have a place

©Jemverse

Series photo is from the front cover of a First Edition of a book by Antony Dale from 1951

On 28 March 2003 the pavilion at the end of the derelict West Pier in Brighton caught fire. Always presumed to have been the work of arsonists, yet never proven, it was still the final death knell for the grand old lady. Opened back in 1866 and surviving two world wars, the pier was sadly closed to the public in 1975. However, I still have fond memories of walking its promenade decks back in the 60s and early 70s. Who knows, I could have trodden the very board fragment I rescued and which now has pride of place in my back garden.

['A fall from grace III' was first published in October 2016]

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Back to i in the sky

2 of 12 in the ‘About Brighton’ series

Towering like a monolith
up into the sky
Brighton’s i-360
is really, really high
Dwarfing the remains
of the ruinous West Pier
it stands alone just waiting
for the summer to appear

Then the doors will open
and its pod all bright and new
will carry people skyward
to take in the marvellous view
Sussex seen from high above
for over twenty miles around
from Brighton’s i-360
Four hundred feet above the ground

©Jemverse

Series photo is from the front cover of a First Edition of a book by Antony Dale from 1951

[‘i in the sky‘ was first published in March 2016. It’s about the Brighton I-360, a 400 ft vertical hydraulic viewing platform, opened in August 2016]

 

Back to the Zebra and Bizet

1 of 12 in the ‘About Brighton’ series

I think it was Bizet the zebra was playing
in Brighton today in the sun
Nocturne in D Major if I’m not mistaken
Yes, I think that piece was the one

It was somehow fitting for the time and the place
a tranquil and quiet melody
Brought an air of contentment to those wandering by
In Brighton, so close to the sea

©Jemverse

Series photo is from the front cover of a First Edition of a book by Antony Dale from 1951

[‘The Zebra and Bizet‘ was first published in September 2015. It’s about a Brighton busker who dresses as a zebra]

Sunday Jemaiku

And continuing that theme
cathartic the thought
as the planted seed there grows
stronger by the day
and what was once just a dream
sees reality

©Jemverse

‘Jemaiku’ is a Japanese inspired non-rhyming poetic form of my own design. It uses a syllabic sequence of 7-5-7-5-7-5

Saturday Bussokuseki

Maybe I can try
as the weekend once again
arrives this morning
to capture something of the
hallowed place it takes me to
confirming the choice is right

©Jemverse

[Bussokuseki is a Japanese non-rhyming poetic form using a syllabic sequence of 5-7-5-7-7-7]

Replete

Seagull silhouetted on the canvas roof
as we sat with cup of tea
in January sunshine there with Sal
and Holly, Grace, Wolfgang and me
He made a happy picture there
synonymous, replete
so I quickly took a picture 
making this fine day complete

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Clarity V

Cathartic this wide expanse of beach
tide low under deep blue sky
just the tonic that I needed
as I wandered slowly by

Splashed winter boots in cold water
found a bright red shell
dragged my toe through the wet sand
with words I'll never tell

Felt the sun warm on my neck
wiped away the tear
replacing that with new found joy
as things became quite clear

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Start VI

6 of 12 in the ’12 months VI’ series

February the first, hip-hip hooray
to start afresh on this Wednesday
what it will bring I cannot say
but all the best to it

I'm sure there will be smiles and tears
there always are in all the years
as each day comes and more appears
with all the best to it

Yet best foot forward as they say
for tomorrow is another day
and we'd not hasten on delay
so all the best to it

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Last day #1

1 of 12 in the ‘Last Day 23’ series

It's January's final day
Tuesday the thirty-first
one month gone of Twenty-Three
thirty days dispersed
I'm not sure where they've gone mind you
as it doesn't seem that long
since we were still on holiday
and singing festive song
But gone they have so onward
to the shortest month we go
What it will bring a mystery
though soon we all will know

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Velleity

No.7 in the ‘Colloquy’ series

I have an inclination
one deep-seated, born of dream
partly wishful thinking but
ever-growing with a smile of whimsy
to which I will return from time to time
For it is something to cherish
teetering on the brink of promise

©Jemverse

[In the ‘Colloquy’ series, I’m exploring some of the English language’s more obscure words. Some little used, some no longer used but all recondite. ‘Velleity’ is a noun and is defined as a wish or inclination not yet strong enough to lead to action.]