I have sun through my window, gold dust on the beam
so whatever I feel and how things may seem
I have treasure abundant and am a rich man
Life sees to that whenever it can
I have jewels laid down whenever it rains
or the dew in the morning with many refrains
I have colours abundant in flower and tree
Wealth, riches and treasure bestowed here for free
So how could I ever be so selfish to say
that life's not provided for me here today
No, that would be churlish, a slap in the face
to this treasure trove here given freely with grace
A clear Autumn day, not a cloud in the sky
A mist that lies lurking like a child's forlorn cry
A walk in the morning when no-one's about
When a whisper is special. 'cos you daren't risk a shout
A broken old caravan, a cow in a field
A dog that likes running for Frisbees concealed
A field that is covered with a crisp, sparkling dew
A feeling of freshness, when everything's new
A field of dry stubble that's been burnt for the year
A farmer out walking (we're not meant to be here)
A last throw of the Frisbee, then back on your lead
And home to make coffee and you then to feed.
The wind had dropped, the sky was blue
the sun was warm, as well I knew
As here in field with seven trees
I felt it warm with gentle breeze
My hoodie off, I bared an arm
and there was no cause for alarm
with only wispy clouds up there
in the blue sky, the sun to share
And Obi has his run around
as we trod slow along the ground
He sniffed and wee'd and ran and ran
as only dogs with small legs can
And Sal and I in all this green
knew of all the places seen
this is the best, our special place
for us three here, with joy and grace
Long shadows in the evening fall
the four of us right here
captured as we wandered
through the sunset for a beer
Round the Beeding Bramber loop
the river on the turn
close to pure perfection
beneath late sunshine's burn
Out for just a short amble
with the company sweet
in the summer countryside
for shadowplay replete
Ears akimbo, cast a shadow
with my humans in my field
when every week I get to run
in the heart of Sussex Weald
It's a place I love to come to
as I get to run quite free
for my drifting and my circles
which are firmly part of me
For I am dog and is what
we canines love the most
together with our humans
who allow us, playing host
Eight years ago on Star Wars Day
and Obi Wan Kinobi
Small brown, all pudding paws and plump
came to live and stay
Name - no brainer (Ed decided)
so Obi Wan Kinobi
could not on May the fourth be else
something in all confided
So eight years on and May the Fourth
with Obi Wan Kinobi
be with you all and with you stay
on Star Wars day of course
The sun shone on Good Friday morn
as we went walking for some fun
Two sisters, father and a dog
as this good day has just begun
Started in fair Arundel
then through the castle ground
up through the South Stoke country park
where marvellous things were found
Views that took our breath away
with skies of deepest blue
this was a time to revel in
which we all four there knew
As it happened the eight miles we planned
turned into something more
though none of us we minded
with the wondrous things we saw
But the Black Rabbit pub it was
a welcome thing to see
as down the river path we came
footsore and thirsty we
Some fourteen miles of Sussex
for a walk which was the best
though when back home for buns and tea
we welcomed then the rest
I don’t ask for much in life
I settle for the least
A bed to sleep in, warm at night
And now and then a feast
A little exercise most days
In the garden, out the back
Some water there to quench my thirst
And perhaps. sometimes. a snack
Yet in return for these small things
I’ll be a life-long friend
Always there to welcome you
On me you can depend
For I am faithful to the last
Ever by your side
I’ll be a true companion
In whom you can confide
I’m always pleased to see you
Whenever that might be
No matter how you’re feeling
For that’s part of being me
For I am dog you understand
A canine through and through
Unequivocally there to be
A special friend for you
‘Unconditional‘ was first posted to Jemverse in January 2015
[Today concludes the ‘My very best’ series – a selection of 12 of the many thousands of poems I’ve written to date in my 50+ years as a poet. There are many more I could have picked so perhaps there’ll be a ‘My very best II’ at some point. Who knows? One thing is certain; I’ll not stop writing!]
Dog walkers walking with plenty of dogs
some running free some on leads
the river meandering down to the sea
with ducks hiding there in the reeds
A grey sky above but the chill is now gone
and there's no wind at all here today
There's even a hint of blue through the cloud
out there in the spread of the bay
The fishermen's cottages so often filmed
are prominent there on the cliff
as we with best foot forward walk
with legs from winter, stiff
And this is a day of the magical kind
the ones with a 'je ne sais quoi'
for joie de vivre, for zest and much more
the one's to shout loud 'et voila!'
Walked a circle round the airport
the rain was in the air
and it was fairly windy
but we loved being there
The three of us and Wolfgang
ten thousand steps then home for tea
is always going to tick the box
in Shoreham by the sea
...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 