The Beach Hut Arms

Came down to the beach hut
on a very windy day
it wasn’t very warm but
I didn’t mind cos, hey…
The reason I was here
with the sea so very near
was to meet at social distance
with a good friend for a beer

And as the weather forecast
was for rain we didn’t care
as the chance to share a beer
with a chat was great down there
So I rather think that this
is something I will often do
A beer at social distance
with a cracking seaside view

©Jemverse

Photo – ‘The Beach Hut Arms’ – Jempics

Lighty-up-Llama

Last year I got a llama
for my birthday just for fun
it lights up of an evening
powered daily by the sun
And then glows different colours
as the evening takes a hold
from red to green to purple
and blue to yellow gold
At the bottom of our garden
it makes for cheery sight
as along with many others
it glows throughout the night

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

More summer

It’s miserable out there
so I think today I’ll stay
cosy here inside my home
and simply have a play

The wind is blowing boisterous
and the sky is full of rain
But it’s summer and July so
the sun will come again

So I’ll spend a day inside
play some music, have a read
as the forecast for the morrow
is more summer here indeed

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

41

The suit I’d purchased for twenty-five quid
all I could afford at the time
just after my twentieth birthday
my life waiting there on the line

The tie was one of my fathers’
as were the shoes on my feet
His passing was five years too early
to see his son’s wedding complete

Now forty-one years have surrendered
themselves to the life we have led
since that day way back in seventy-nine
when Sally and Jeremy wed

And our love it grows ever stronger
kindred soulmates we are both as one
our life just one big adventure
since that day when it was begun

©Jemverse

Sal & Jem’s wedding day – 7th July 1979 [Photo: Josse Davis – Jem’s best man]

To see where I hide

I have a small corner
with a chair and a cushion
Comfortable, it is a place to hide
albeit in plain sight
It is here that I escape into music
to while away hours lost to rhythm
safe in the knowledge
that this is my place
My sacrosanct
My place to hide
And dream
And breathe

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Simply back

Simply back together again
the six of us once more
was absolutely all that
we’ve been really waiting for

‘Normal’ is a word that I
think has lost its meaning
at least now here in context
and the way the world is leaning

But the chance to re-unite
our family – six as one
brought us all a joy which
is second here to none

©Jemverse

Photo- all six Crouchers re-united at Hut 101 – Jempics

Simple pleasures

Writing in my little book
really brings me pleasure
just crafting lines of poetry
to hold and yes, to treasure
I just can’t stop myself I find
I simply have to write
be that in the daytime
or late into the night

As when the words are out there
the poet has no choice
but to sit and write and capture them
so others can rejoice

For when the reader sits there
and sees in their mind’s eye
the place the words they came from
and smiles and breathes a sigh
that magic is repeated
time and time again
with lines re-read, repeated
in a poem’s sweet refrain

And if as me a poet
can, when writing takes a hold
capture just a part of that
it’s as precious as pure gold

For though stopping isn’t possible
it’s really nice to know
that pleasure is repeated
from my words when in full flow
So I’ll take that simple pleasure
as I really like to give
pouring out the joy that comes
from words that simply live

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Virtual hugs

What I wouldn’t give
for an actual real-life hug
but that’s not to be so when
we meet we smile and shrug
throw wide our arms as always
for a virtual one that’s best
under these cruel circumstances
Covid’s given us to test

But the social gatherings we have
at a distance in the sun
are things we all revel in
and enjoyed by everyone
So with every opportunity
afforded we will meet
and though the hugs are absent
just being there’s a treat

©Jemverse

Photo – virtual hugs at the beach hut – Jempics

Leisure Days

Sometimes you need leisure days
when slowing down is good
Cathartic, they restore the soul
so you really know you should
I had one of those yesterday
as the forecast was for rain
and some things they needed doing
and they wouldn’t wait again

As it turned out though the sunshine
came out bright and hot once more
but by then I was quite resolute
for what there lay in store
I found the braddle lurking
(we had lost it for a while)
and there it was right on the shelf
(which gave me pause for smile)

I cleared the shed out by the door
and hung some hooks for stuff
which took me up to lunchtime
when I had had enough
So I found a Badger beer
and sat out in the sun
to write a little poem
as the sorting out was done

By and by I think a wander
is not a bad idea
perhaps down to the waterline
if the coast is clear
And later on if rains they come
as seems likely by the sky
I’ll sit inside with music
and watch it rolling by

For all of this is parcel
to the leisure of the day
when both productive and relaxing
contribute in a way
as sometimes we need leisure days
they really are quite good
for sorting out and finding stuff
Go on! You know you should.

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Affirmation

Spent the day with family and Wolf
out in the bright summer sun
with social distancing observed as you do
for good conversation and fun

It almost felt normal and was for one thing
as we couldn’t get close for a hug
but even for that we’ve developed a thing
which we smile as we do with a shrug

The chance to just sit and natter away
and play with the Wolf for a while
is enough for us here, affirmation of life
to embrace as we do with a smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Jem with Wolfgang (‘Wolf’) not seen for 3 months – Bezza Croucher