Wandering

Dappled sunlight
through the leaves
dances underneath
the trees

And with its movement
so do I
slowly as I
wander by

©Jemverse

Photo – from Jemverse on instagram, May 2018 – Jempics

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Right time, right place

In London quite early
(I was up with the lark)
So it’s still very quiet
in St James’ park

And just there by the lake
as I happenchanced by
A picture of heaven
for a smile and a cry

A swan with her babies
sheltered there by a wing
A privilege to see and
a beautiful thing

So I paused for a moment
and watched and admired
those small fluffy babies
the swans here had sired

An exquisite moment
right time and right place
which, I might add
brought a smile to my face

©Jemverse

Photo – Goslings sheltering under mother swan’s wing – St James’ Park, London – Jempics

Beacon

The day was full of sunshine
as we headed out, day three
of our walks on hills of Sussex
my brother Dave and me
This time to Ditchling Beacon
climbing chalky paths and hill
then into shady valleys
where the air was calm and still
The green of Sussex countryside
just took our breath away
and contributed to bring about
another lovely day.

©Jemverse

Photo – Ditchling Beacon, South Downs Way, East Sussex – Jempics

Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go for a week-long walk. We’ve been elsewhere but most times, the draw of the wonderful South Downs Way – out there on our doorstep – keeps us close to home. Day 4 took us just over 18 miles from Rodmell to Ditchling Beacon (and then down into Stanmer Woods).

Rodmell

We climbed up to Firle Beacon
(It was really windy there)
and its wasn’t from the beans we’d had
for breakfast, to be fair!
The views across fair Sussex
were magnificent to see
on this second day of walking
for my brother Dave and me
And then downhill to Rodmell
in the valley of the Ouse
for well earned respite at the pub
followed by a snooze

©Jemverse

The ‘To to pub’ sign just above Rodmell on the South Downs Way, East Sussex, directs walkers to The Abergavenny Arms, the only pub in the village. Photo – Jempics

Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go for a week-long walk. We’ve been elsewhere but most times, the draw of the wonderful South Downs Way – out there on our doorstep – keeps us close to home. Day 3 took us 14 miles from Alfriston to Rodmell.

Alfriston

We traversed Seven Sisters
high cliffs above the sea
Clear blues skies and sunshine
my brother Dave and me
There were lots of foreign students
around the tourist traps
but we left them all behind us
as we walked on, us two chaps

Down to Cuckmere Haven
a picture postcard made
then into Friston Forest
‘neath the trees and in the shade
And finally to Alfriston
(It’s good to be back here)
Shed the packs and to the pub
for a very welcome beer

©Jemverse

Photo – The South Downs Way, East Sussex, crossing the ‘Seven Sisters’ towards Cuckmere Haven – Jempics

Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go for a week-long walk. We’ve been elsewhere but most times, the draw of the wonderful South Downs Way – out there on our doorstep – keeps us close to home. Day 2 took us 13 miles from Eastbourne to Alfriston.

Twelve months five

No.10 of 12 in the Jemverse ’12 months’ series

On our wall there hangs a Hockney
print we bought at Tate last year
which with its bright strong colour
brings us constant cheer

And as Hockney loves a Hawthorn
it seemed appropriate to say
that the colour in the hedgerows now
are the birth flowers of May

White of course in Springtime
berries bright and red come fall
there’s something in the flower of May
to please both one and all

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

This is 10 in a series of 12 poems written for and published on the 1st of every month for a year. See also Twelve Months Eight, Twelve Months Nine, Twelve Months Ten, Twelve Months Eleven , Twelve Months Twelve , Twelve Months One,  Twelve Months Two , Twelve Months Three and Twelve Months Four.

Moments in Bristol

We had a brilliant time down in Bristol
reliving the days from my youth
Great to see the familiar sights
with some ‘moments’ to tell you the truth

We wandered along by the water
to the SS Great Britain still there
Refurbished of course now and lovely
its history and glory to share

Which was when I had a ‘small moment’
when fifty years back a small lad
stood and watched the Great Britain
towed into dry dock with his Dad

©Jemverse

The SS Great Britain was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and was the largest passenger ship in the world between 1845 and 1854. She was also the first iron steamer to cross the Atlantic. She was scuttled to a sandbank in the Falkland Islands in 1937 but, in 1970, was towed back to the UK to the dry dock in Bristol where she was originally built. A full restoration programme was begun, returning the ship to her full former glory. I was one of the first people to tread her boards after the 1970 salvage; 48 years later I returned for another look. Photo – Jempics