Liverpool again

Today I'm travelling further
since the pandemic started
than I have travelled recently
that pleasure long departed
But later Liverpool I'll see
again and better still
two good friends I have sorely missed
again to see I will
It'll take me six hours on the train
but I have all I need
good music to look forward to
and several books to read

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Lavender Rescue

I'm salvaging some lavender
it wasn't happy where it was
so I've found a place, a sunny spot
whence it can thrive because
I'll tend it more and water it
and trim the bits that die
so hopefully some flowers will come
to harvest come July

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Beaches

Looking out 'cross windswept beaches
though this one's far from home
a familiar feeling warms me
from all the views I've known
For here I'm in my element
close to the sea, my heart
a synergy that's part of me
and has been from the start

©Jemverse

Photo – the beach at Camber Sands, East Sussex, looking West – Jempics

Thunderstorm

The warmer air was palpable
so we knew something was coming
electric currents in the air
a tingling on the neck and hair
and rumbles out there humming

Then suddenly the brightest flash
as lightning stabbed the night
The thunder roared
as we applaud
at this most splendid sight

The thunderstorm arrived at last
and with it rain a-plenty
We whooped and cheered
as close it neared
til it and we were empty

©Jemverse

Photo – Julian Martin

Tri-tanka XV (Friday)

Come Friday, relax
for it is the weekend now
Time for more yellow
and for some in swathes of sun
for comfort in safe harbour

Come Friday, enjoy
for it is again your time
Safe in the knowledge
of 'je ne sais quoi' feelings
to simply be you and breathe

Come Friday, begin
again to find that freedom
and then reclaim it
for it is to have and hold
a treasure made for riches

©Jemverse

‘Tanka’ is a Japanese poetic non-rhyming form with a syllabic sequence of  5, 7, 5, 7, 7

Sandcastle

We made the best sandcastle
that a beach has ever seen
it took us several hours to make
a mark where we had been
Little children paused to stare
and admire it with a smile
for it was truly massive
and took all of us a while
It had a moat and curtain walls
bridges, steps and towers
and when we'd finished it we knew
that it was wholly ours
We'd made the best sandcastle
Camber sands has ever seen
and whilst it stands you'll surely know
that Crouchers there have been

©Jemverse

Photo – ‘Seahorse castle’, Camber Sands, Sussex, May 2022 – Jempics

Eurovision 22

Watching Eurovision Twenty Two
aghast with whoops and cheers
we watched as UK on the boards
got its first points in years
Every time a twelve was called
to UK, loud we hailed
for this history in the making
that our 'spaceman' had regaled
Yet, saying that, the public vote
to place the winning sound
was absolutely justified
when Ukraine's turn came round

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Release

I'm sitting down in Obi's field
as the vice across my chest
has returned with bitter vengeance
so I really need the rest
I've found a lovely spot though
by the fence amongst the yellow
where I can sit and watch the
running of the happy fellow
And breathing deep the Sussex air
I feel the vice break free
releasing all the pressure
that this asthma brings to me

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Camber Sands

For a birthday treat our children
took us to Camber Sands
a weekend at Badger Cottage
neath the sand dunes tall and grand
They'd all kept it a secret
but it's known and open now
as the six of us are here
with our dog cos he's allowed

©Jemverse

Photo – Camber Sands, East Sussex – from the top of the dunes looking West – Jempics

Lotty looking lovely

The lottie's looking lovely
more like it's owned and loved
instead a patch of weed and grass
abandonment has shoved
and it didn't really take that long
we have a system there you see
as Sally does the strimming
leaving heavy stuff to me
So the lottie's looking lovely
once again our patch of land
on which we'll grow our produce
and keep it looking grand

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics