The red and the gold

The sunset is over
the fading has passed
the evening slip-slides away
We’ve said our goodbyes
and shared in the peace
that we saw at the end of your day

The red and the gold
have flooded the sky
The evening of life is now done
We’ve each kissed your head
and held your sweet hand
as the end of your life has now come

But as I left he smiled
and tipped me a wink
The angel there at the door
Whispered a greeting
said it was time
That this was what you’d waited for

‘She’s in good hands’ he said
‘And loving it now’
‘With a jump and a dance and a shout’
‘Shed a tear by all means’
‘But remember that this’
‘Is really what living’s about’

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

[Written on the day my Mother – Ruth Eunice Shrimpton – passed; 20 May 2019].

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Forty-one valentines

This year, this
Valentines, this day
to you, my soulmate
here I’ll say
Though forty years
and one year longer
My love for you
is ever stronger

We grow together
you and me
A partnership
eternally
So here’s to forty
more, my dear
My friend, my soulmate
Ever here.

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

39

Back in nineteen seventy-nine
all those years ago
With me in white, my bride in blue
we walked in sunshine slow
A promise made, sealed with a kiss
the entourage they laughed
and in that moment, with applauds
we were wed at last

A love that sparked with smear of clay
grew stronger every year
The laughter stayed, the children came
to fill our lives with cheer
Now almost forty years have passed
yet still in love are we
Thirty-nine upon this day
Our anniversary

©Jemverse

Photo – Jem (of Jemverse) and his soulmate Sal on their wedding day – 7 July 1979 

My Mum

Just like the summer sunshine
My Mother shines for me
As she has done throughout the years
Unreservedly

So on this Mothering Sunday
Have a really special day
With all my thanks for being you
In every single way

©Jemverse

Photo – Ruth Eunice Croucher snapped in June 1959 by my father, John Alan Croucher, a week after the birth of her firstborn (me).

If I said…

If I said that I loved you
would you take it as that
Would you just take my word
and accept it as fact
Or would a small smear
of clay on your hand
confirm my intentions
like a seal or a brand

If I said that I loved you
still all these years
that we’ve been together
through joys and tears
Would you smile in that
most inimitable way
which though words sometimes falter
a smile will convey

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

[A poem for Valentines Day 2018 – our 39th]

At twilight…

Two figures on a darkened shore
down by the glistening sand
Out there in the distance
walking hand in hand

This is a time for lovers
with a new moon in the sky
As, on a turning tide, the waves
whisper with a sigh

There’s gold on the horizon
a treasure out of reach
But more precious is this moment shared
down here on Shoreham Beach

©Jemverse

Photo – Shoreham Beach, West Sussex, UK at twilight. (You can just spot the two figures these words speak of to the middle right of the picture, just above the promontory) – Jempics

Everything

1 of 6 in the Jemverse ‘Shoreham’ series

It has the downs, it has the sea
with a river running through
It has a thousand years of history
for the memories it grew
It has my heart, it has my love
with home right at the centre
It has excitement every day
for a spirit of adventure
It has unique, it has sublime
with everything for me
It has a name, synonymous
with Shoreham by the Sea

©Jemverse

Today sees the start of another Jemverse mini-series, this one being six poems about aspects of my home town of Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK. I took the picture used for ‘Everything’ in June 2014 from the beach side of the town looking back across the river to the 11th century tower of the parish church of St Mary de Haura.