Stepped on a crack in the pavement of life
And heard something chasing me
Turned and saw the bears of the night
Bricked it, suddenly
Ran so hard I thought I would die
But the bears were still hot on my trail
Panicked, I thought of a way to be free
But thought it would probably fail
Knew it was the only thing left to do
So I leapt for the space in between
And behind me I watched the bears disappear
As I fell to the ground breathlessly
Turned my head to the earth to cry
But a strong hand reached out for mine
Led me away from the cracks in the road
Showed me the narrow line
Said it was hard to follow sometimes
But promised to always be there
Smiled and said to follow him
Led me away from the bears
In the sand we saw footprints that led to the sun
and we followed them true for a while
but then a distraction called from one side
so we scurried away with a smile
But the smile of distraction soon turned to a frown
and could never hold us for long
as we realised its shallow deception
and grew tired of its welcoming song
So we knew then the footprints were where we should be
to follow them on to the Son
for the truth, when it hit us was evident then
as the place where life was begun
When you're under the weather and feeling quite ill
and you're not at all sure if you're quite yourself still
and everything aches and all energy's gone
and you can't string two words together for long
You know that it's time to stay warm in bed
and let sleep the good healer do its stuff instead
as though at present it's naff and you're not feeling clever
you know you'll get better and this won't last forever
Took myself for a walk
around and about
my gait having purpose
as it's nice to get out
Down to the beach
the broad walk for me
breathing in deep
salt air from the sea
Nodding a greeting
to people I passed
responding in kind
to others who asked
Getting my steps in
but it's more than that
as it brings a purpose
for matter of fact
Wellbeing of mind
and body and spirit
which in walks by the sea
fills up in a minute
So the privilege isn't
in any way lost
and I'm thankful for that
with no price or cost
As all of this wonder
is given for free
in a walk on the beach
down here by the sea
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
Cathartic this wide expanse of beach
tide low under deep blue sky
just the tonic that I needed
as I wandered slowly by
Splashed winter boots in cold water
found a bright red shell
dragged my toe through the wet sand
with words I'll never tell
Felt the sun warm on my neck
wiped away the tear
replacing that with new found joy
as things became quite clear
With lucidity
lightbulb moments came to me
from left field this week
Caught me unaware but filled
the hole which had been growing
With lucidity
fulfilment left me complete
with realisation
And relaxed into happy
the proverbial clouds parted
With lucidity
the sunshine returned again
and with spring in step
I was dancing in my mind
Some decisions born of that
[Tanka is a Japanese poetic non-rhyming poem with a syllabic sequence of 5-7-5-7-7. ‘Tri-tanka is a derivative of Jemverse making, returned to periodically as part of an ongoing series]
Sat in the hospital waiting room
there with Sal for moral support
on a very cold winters' morning
('cos it's the right thing and I ought)
Here for an eyesight inspection
post-op (trust everything's good)
'cos we're not as young as we were
and things don't work quite as they should
But we're in a good place for the checking
all thanks to the NHS
whose care and attention and treatment
is nothing short of the best
At the Buckingham Arms with my Bro for a beer
Our local, our pub - we both love it here
Conversation will flow and we'll have a good time
with a chat and a game over beer or a wine
It's our mindfulness tonic for mental health's sake
so we'll waste not a moment this pleasure to take
Once some several years ago
In hallowed ground near here
I bowed and offered humber prayer
the beach and sea quite near
A little chapel on the shore
at Easter time at home
with crown of thorns up on the wall
for people to atone
And now as then on Saturday
the sun becomes the son
as at Easter his forgiveness
is complete for everyone
...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 