Sal sings the song a month before me
'cos I in my youth am still sixty-three
But today on her birthday the chorus rings true
so we'll sing it together as that's something we do
The question, rhetorical; clearly and more
'cos of course there's the need now one's sixty-four
Forty-two birthdays both shared together
but the sixty-fourth one means we can be clever
And of course there's the love and of course there's the need
now we've made it to this one (well almost indeed)
So here's to your birthday and for many more
when at last we can sing 'Now I'm sixty-four'!
Bluebell by name and bluebell by nature
the walk was the best in a while
Seven miles wandering the countryside pure
in Sussex to bring us a smile
Five of us this time, numbers have swelled
the family out here together
with mud underfoot and grey of the sky
determined whatever the weather
We took in the woods with the blue and the green
passing paddocks and ponds on the way
before walking the tracks yesteryear provides still
the proud Sussex Bluebell Railway
And our pleasure was crowned with a glory right there
as a train puffered by with a song
the rhythm of steam and the clatter of wheels
it passed us as we walked along
So to the Green Man at Hosted Keynes where
footsore we raised glasses with cheer
A walk we'll remember as special indeed
which long in our hearts we'll hold dear
[The Bluebell Railway is an 11-mile heritage steam railway line in Sussex which operates between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead (on the mainline) with intermediate stations at Horsted Keynes and Kingscote. It boasts over 30 steam locomotives and 150 carriages and wagons, most of them pre-1939].
From Rodmell via Southease, a loop of three miles
as the warmth returned once again
Us four with our boots
'neath the blue of a sky
walking to keep ourselves sane
There were sheep in the rape munching blithely away
and cows lowing there in the field
as the Ouse on the ebb
flowed out to the sea
in the heart of the Sussex Weald
This circuital wander, just enough for us four
to brush all the cobwebs away
and see us all well
for a marvellous time
on this lovely warm late April day
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 remember the day, the falling from grace
with a knock at the door and a slap in the face
as the vicar stood there with chagrin and poise
whilst the words hit me hard with the loudest of noise
My father was gone, no more to return
forlorn, devastated, my fifteen years spurned
But I rose from that moment and grew with a strength
that lessened the pain at last and at length
Though no February passes when I don't think of him
forty-nine long years later, eyes full to the brim
It's a sad day remembered yet of one I am proud
for with it to his memory I will always shout loud
We coddiwompled in the mud
up at Barcombe Mills
all eight of us together
amidst the Sussex hills
The rain held off but underfoot
the mud was thick and wet
but we all had the best of times
so never cause to fret
The Anchor Inn was closed
but we really didn't mind
as this was just the perfect walk
coddiwompling here to find
Photo – “The Beans at Barcombe – December 2022” – Jempics
[In the ‘Colloquy’ series, I’m exploring some the of English language’s more obscure words. Some little used, some no longer used but all recondite. ‘Coddiwomple’ is slang for travelling in a purposeful way towards a vague destination]
Around a table with Cluedo and Red Leicester cheese
with good conversation, precious days these
Laughter and merriment the six of us here
these are the days for which we all cheer
As it's all about family and closeness together
for the bad times and good, the known and whatever
For we all are as one, best of friends and of kin
arms linked with a smile through the thick and the thin
Sitting in a London pub
waiting with a jar
seemed the right thing there to do
the meeting place not far
Carnaby Street and Kingly Court
around the corner there
where in a bit I'll wander
a lovely meal to share
Two offspring London working
and me here for the week
so meeting up one evening
a no-brainer so to speak
But I got here quite early
so I'm killing time a while
with a London tipple
and a poem for a smile
Sitting on a windy beach, the sky's a leaden grey
down here at the beach hut for a family day today
It's a pity that the sunshine didn't wear its hat again
But then this windy weather suggests coming of some rain
And that won't dampen spirits, we'll still have a lovely time
Cos it's all about the company in wind or rain or shine
Thirty years ago today
two star-crossed lovers wed
and as years passed their love it grew
throughout the life they led
So to celebrate their special day
a pearl of best persuasion
for this their anniversary
befits this grand occasion
...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 