I've probably said it and written it down
in a poem I've crafted before
Repetition aside though, I'll say it again
as this is what writing is for
A message in words with a syntax to flow
off the tongue as one reads it aloud
which as poet and wordsmith fills me with a joy
of which (I might add) I am proud
For if by that measure the message I bring
is revealed and remembered and lived
my purpose as poet to fruition is come
delivered to you by this gift
And freely that's given, I've no restraint there
as my role is custodian here
for the words that I craft to verse which I leave
has one purpose - to bring you good cheer
A new pen in my poet's hand
always brings a joy
something it has always done
since I was just a boy
It's all about the tactile
and the way the ink just flows
that makes me want to write and
see how to the page it goes
Three thousand poems published
since Jemverse came to be
on WordPress as a daily blog
in two thousand and fourteen
Just over eight years, April last
I started sharing wide
the poems I had written
for in others to confide
and since then it's grown to passion
something that's a part of me
which, with Jemverse as the outlet
I can let you people see
Now where people park their cars
on tarmac for some shopping
once stood an open field where
you'd oft see sheep a-hopping
A shepherd's hut stood to the south
close to its southern border
fenced in with wooden latticework
to keep the sheep in order
On Tarmount Lane in Shoreham town
the shepherd's field you'd see
for many years with grazing
for the sheep that wandered free
Photo – from a postcard in the author’s collection
[This picture, taken from the top of St Mary de Haura’s church tower, shows an early 20th century view of Shoreham looking east towards the chemical works on the beach and the harbour entrance. You can see the shepherd’s hut and field in the bottom left hand corner. It’s now a car-park.]
So as I sit here writing poems
casting my life into words
capturing nuance as it transpires
from mundane to the absurd
for this it is my passion
a thing I've always done
never still my pen has been
since I was just begun
and long my it continue
for my essence in here lies
always finding things to say
to bring joy and yes, surprise
Little ditties written free
clearly for the day
crafted in the gift of rhyme
in my own Jemverse way
Gifted to the reader who
by whim or happenstance
takes them for a purpose
or otherwise by chance
And always by the poet's hand
no discontent to tally
each verse provided daily
here good sentiment to carry
Sun streams through my window
blank pages waiting there
inspiration with this warming light
words gather here to share
and as invigorated poet I
seize pen and write away
plucking words to hone my craft
in my own special way
Rhyme my raison d'être
tells its story here once more
in this daily visitation
of what the poet's in me for
Many times in these hours
I have fine honed my craft
some say I am mad
and others I'm daft
but this edge before morning
this whispering time
is perfect for me
for writing a line
when the words like a river
flow from my pen
and the poet embraces
them each like a friend
I had no words this morning
at least none written down
my poems book page empty
the one I carry round
but then it's been so busy
and the house is not our own
sharing it with offspring
now older and full grown
So much preoccupation
excitement, laughter, joy
and little time left over
for a poet to employ
the tools his craft lays open
to capture what life brings
though always left is memory
amongst those precious things
That and the social media
around us everywhere
capturing the moments
that we always freely share
so when on days like this
when free writing is my thing
I'm grateful for that gift
as some lines it's sure to bring
So though I had no words
at least none written down
there's always some uplifting
and rarely cause to frown
As a snapshot someone's taken
like this one is a gift
which crafted by the poet
will bring the words to lift
Catch myself sometimes, sideways glance
when I'm in vacant mood
pensive with my many thoughts
on which I often brood
and when I do I'll try to find
the spark I know is there
ignite it and release the vibe
when I'm caught unaware
Because when that is ignited
the fire leaps to the page
and I am then encouraged
with my words to re-engage
life becomes more tangible
and sunshine lights the way
to guide the form and syntax
in my writing every day
So yes it's good to sometimes
whene'er you get the chance
to seize a captured moment
and use it there to prance
upon yourself at random
whilst you are standing there
for release from pensive lethargy
when you're caught unaware
...all about me and my life in words. I write most days, carrying an ideas book around in which I capture a word snapshot of life around me. So there's a lot here about Sussex and the sea and anything else I see that inspires.
The pictures are mine too. Some taken to match a poem; some poems written to match a pic; others chosen because they work well with words written.
Jemverse is life in words. Hope you enjoy the reading as much as I enjoy the writing...
Jemverse 