Tri-haiku XXXII – Time’s passage

The last of the month
where has February gone?
already it’s March

But no complaints here
for summer’s ever closer
Warmer daytime soon

Coupled with new growth
Springtime around the corner
with grass now greener

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Tri-haiku XXXI (Daffodil Laughter)

A vibrant greeting
bursting in Springtime yellow
sunshine to my day

A splash of colour
to the monotone palette
of winter greyness

Daffodil laughter
brightens up most any day
Truly infectious

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The tree-monster’s tail

The tree-monster’s tail
stuck out of the ground
and though it was still
I made little sound
For there was no telling
and never a clue
what it would decide
and choose when to do
So erring on cautions
side I crept by
preferring instead
to let it sleep and lie
And the tree-monster’s tail
stayed still in the cold
as of course it long had
for many years told
But even though maybe
it was going nowhere
I didn’t tempt fate
as I passed by it there

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Sheep convention

The sheep had a convention
in the upper field today
I suspect grass was the subject
or some munching anyway
And there were clearly some ringleaders
as they moved around a lot
their noses buried in the grass
from spot to luscious spot

And by and by they made their way
to the place the gate once was
and to the one all followed through
as it made sense because
there within the lower field
as all good sheep will know
the grass is that much greener
so that’s where they did go

Later on although I think
the naughty step for sheep
will see some action when the shepherd
pops by for a peep
Because I know that this convention
was never meant to stray
there into the lower field
on this cold winter’s day

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

For Pops

Look at me now Pops, I’m an older man now
I’m past sixty, the years have flown by
That slap in the face
has long turned to grace
yet still on this day I will cry

Nineteenth of February nineteen seventy-four
etched in my mind for all time
The day that you left
leaving family bereft
although all these years later we’re fine

Just four of us left now, Mum with you now
We are older and wiser and free
Yet still we recall
as the years pass and fall
with that promise that one day we’ll see

So this one’s for you Pops, this day I remember
once a year with a glass in the air
As with happiness here
with you share a beer
and the memories happily share

©Jemverse

In loving memory of my father – John Alan Croucher (10/5/34 to 19/2/74)

I ran and I ran

There was ice in my field
round the tree in the middle
most of it solid
but some of it brittle
But I didn’t mind ‘cos
the ground it was firm
so my paws found their grip
with less squither and squirm
And I ran and I ran
my ears all at random
exploring three acres
in sheer joy abandon
And my humans they laughed
clapping hands with a cheer
for although it was cold
it was Obi’s place here
So I ran round some more
quite as happy as they
as this place is fantastic
What more can I say?

©Jemverse

Me (Obi) running in my field [Photo – Jempics (one of my humans)]

Thirty-four

On a February day
thirty-four years ago
I remember quite well
the remains of the snow
as on a bright morning
I walked by the sea
so proud of the fact
of no longer ‘to be’
But actually now
a father at last
all those long months of waiting
now finally past
For there on that day
to Sally and me
the gift of a daughter
with our Emily

©Jemverse

Photo – Emily Rose on her 33rd birthday – Jempics

Summer to share

The warmth on my shoulder
as I sit here and write
is really quite lovely
in this winter sunlight
It feels just like summer
and if I close my eyes
I can see myself there
with no little surprise

But it’s February now
and though it’s still cold
it won’t be that long
if I may be so bold
before Springtime gathers
and the weather prepares
as its garners itself
the summer to share

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Forty-three Valentines

Forty-three valentines I have now sent
to my one true love every year
Our love it grows stronger
and may it live longer
I trust as I hold her so dear

And we have been wed forty-two of those years
Soulmates, we two are entwined
So here now from me
here is forty-three
Will you please be my Valentine?

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics; ‘Heart-stone’ driftwood sculpture – Jemdrift

Magical III

It’s magical this snow-cast light
the icing sugar dust
as slowly things are covered
and capture it I must

Iron-chill the Northern blast
makes minus five feel raw
yet still the child within me yearns
for snow on snow and more

Househound here the nation wanes
to bleak midwinter flow
But doesn’t really mind because
there’s nowhere else to go

So gazing whimsically outside
as whiteness thickens there
we welcome inner child-like glee
and in this beauty share

©Jemverse

Photo – Sally Croucher