We sing

Back to the Buckingham, freedom at last
it's good to be normal for a bit of a blast
Alcohol zero of course as the pills
don't mix too well with my ails and my ills
But this new trusty steed, my blue wheelchair
and the feeling better got me back there
with friends and family, it's a marvellous thing
as life and normal return and we sing

©Jemverse

House full of flowers

The house is full of flowers
the most there's ever been
most of which I know about
but some I've never seen

Demonstrative of all the love
that's been outpouring here
since last week's diagnosis
from those I hold so dear

I'm overwhelmed, no doubt of that
but it's a wondrous, joyous thing
these tokens of the love that's held
and the pleasure they all bring

©Jemverse

Photo – just one of the myriad bouquets and bunches filling our house – this one from my ex-work team.

My equilibrium

This time of life, stability
my equilibrium
is here for me, my family
I love them, every one
Supportive, loving, ever there
they're everything I need
there for me, as I for them
in all to intercede

©Jemverse

44

Forty four years since seventy nine
when I became yours and you became mine
Soulmates then and soulmates now
Our love grows deeper still somehow

Back then the song which then we sung
when we were twenty and so young
still now we sing, our voices loud
as of our love we are so proud

So here's to you, my love, my wife
Bonne Anniversaires for wedded life
with hope and knowledge that we will
see many more together still

©Jemverse

Photo – James Newbold

Wise words at the Lion & Lobster

Met an old friend at the Lion & Lobster
he retired ages ago
but at the toss of a coin fairly soon I will join
and pensioner days I will know

But I'm not there yet at the Lion & Lobster
I'm still working you see
Though I'm still a great fan and am making a plan
and a pensioner soon I will be

Truth be told this old friend at the Lion & Lobster
is several years younger than I
But though he went too soon we all call the tune
for pensioner days by and by

So I met an old friend at the Lion & Lobster
and as I had something to hear
I listened in well to the words he did tell
as a pensioner I'll be this year

©Jemverse

Photo – The Lion & Lobster, Sillwood Street Brighton – Jempics

Good Friday Wanders

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

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Forty-five Valentines

Once many years ago a girl and a boy
in the pottery room with some clay
had a play fight, threw some and laughed
fell in love with each other that day

Grew into soulmates, kindred spirits to last
got married in the summer and then
saw many years together as one
and best and inseparable friends

So here in the year of the water rabbit
and forty-five valentines later
the boy to the girl in their sixty-fourth year
knows their love is now only the greater

©Jemverse

Photo – James Newbold

Selfie with Wolfgang

Took a selfie with Wolfgang (me in the red)
Two chaps on the sofa rear-facing instead
He belongs to my daughter and son-in-law, Lee
but I've known him since birth so he's precious to me
Two good friends together for the selfies one takes
captured there in a moment for memories to make

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

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

Gigsters Divine

Though many bands we've seen
it's been six years since last we all
were collectively 'the gigsters'
at least, as I recall
But last night for Divine Comedy
the 'Gigsters' were united
once again all six together
as each had been invited
'Divine' was most appropriate
as superlative this evening
the 'Gigsters' doing what we do
for friendship's steadfast meaning

©Jemverse

Photo of ‘The Gigsters’ – Mike Dillamore. Divine Comedy gig at Brighton Dome 29.4.22 (That’s me – Jem – in the hat on the end)