Enough's enough so here we go
into the jungle at the rear
aka our back garden which
is really overdue a clear
We've rather let it go of late
and with springtime zest it's grown
into an erstwhile jungle
from the garden we have known
But armed with determination
and some shears we will reclaim
it back from something overgrown
to a garden once again
From the Saltings 'cross old oyster beds
the town of Shoreham lay
steeped in ancient history
and yet familiar today
The Norfolk (then suspension) bridge
to fore of course long gone
and the brewery chimneys now replaced
by newer builds upon
The High Street of the new town
with St Mary's to the rear
a town that lives in history
which we all hold so dear
[Photo – from a postcard in the author’s collection – circa. 1912. Shoreham-by-Sea viewed from ‘The Saltings’ bank of what is now the new Mackley’s sea defence wall adjacent to the Houseboat community on the river Adur; Shoreham Beach side]
I travelled long the length of England
stayed away for several days
and then for several hours found
a path back to Southern ways
As home is where the heart is
so it's good to get back there
even though these travels are
something to love and share
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
[#16 in the ‘Past to Present’ series from Jemverse]
One hundred sixteen years ago
'Old B' he wrote some lines
and sent them to Molteno
in those now long distant times
I can't quite read his writing
but I know so well the scene
on the postcard that he used
as it is a place I've been
My hometown, Shoreham, Sussex coast
though things have changed a tad
my home since the mid sixties
when I was just a lad
And this little piece of cardboard
though it's travelled many miles
still serves the purpose given
as it still keeps bringing smiles
[Photo – of a postcard in the author’s collection].
William Henry Borrow (the artist) was 19th century English watercolorist who worked largely in Sussex between 1863 and 1893. This postcard, postmarked Bexhill-on-Sea (Sussex) on May 10 1906 and Molteno (South Africa) on 31 May 1906, is notable as it has travelled from Shoreham to South Africa and back to Shoreham again, 116 years after it was first purchased, written and sent.
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
Sunshine returned, it's cooler now
but the beach beckoned silent to me
and I heard its voice and quickened to that
with a wander down to the sea
Catching again the glimmer out there
as the sun on the water it shone
reminded me that these moments in time
need capturing lest they are gone
So I wandered a while on the shore with my friend
as the shingle crunched under my feet
watching the waves as out there they danced
at one with the world and complete
For it's there that I'm always the best I can be
I'm content in my happy place here
just watching the ocean, salt in the air
unbridled exuberance of cheer
There's a Millennium Falcon built in Lego on the side
my drum in the far corner which I banged loud with Pride
Evidence of music which is a passion as you'll know
my PS Five and TV - this is a place I go
to while away the hours that I have when being me
be that music, games or writing - it is a place to be
I'm curled in a circle in my little bed
on the floor in the room where I rest my head
when I'm not barking or running instead
as mostly I need a good nap
I'm curled and I'm comfy and that's a no-brainer
as with anything else I'd be quite the complainer
for comfortable snoozes I'm a canine campaigner
as mostly I need a good nap
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
...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...