On this September morning
sunshine greeted me again
and as this could be the summer's swansong
no one could lay the blame
if today instead of working
to the beach I went instead
to seize the opportunity
and by my heart be led
So that's what I resolved to do
'no brainer' some would say
as it's not often in September
that it's as hot as this today
Ne'r a cloud above in sight
the sky the deepest blue
with a breeze from early summer
I'd forgotten that I knew
And of course I found a hagstone
for my collection of such things
another treasure from the place
that pulls at my heartstrings
This beach, this perfect haven
here in Sussex by the sea
which at the summer's swansong
is the only place to be
Photo – Jempics (a ‘hagstone’ is found pebble with a natural hole right through, sculpted by the sea). I have not left a Sussex beach without at least one for as long as I can remember. So I have a great many hagstones now!
Sunglare shine on longshore drift
the rippled sand aglow
down here in early evening
as the sunshine sinks down low
Cool the lapping wavelets
from the brilliance of day
as barefoot here I wander
whilst around me seagulls play
Sunglare shine on longshore drift
low tide sand revealed
a pleasant change from shingle crunch
for secrets here concealed
And combine all this together
on this long September day
for this extended summer
is just perfect I would say
Days like today
may be short lived indeed
but they're part of my rhythm
and part of my creed
For I am the beach
and the beach is all me
as part of my essence
is to be by the sea
So as long as the sun
has its warmth and its strength
I'll be down at the beach
for some time and at length
to while many hours
with my friend here the sea
because I am the beach
and the beach is all me
The temperature crept above ninety
so I thought 'that's enough for today'
and, grabbing a go-bag ready to go
to the beach again, made my own way
The breeze from the sea was most welcome
but it was still in the eighties down there
Though as this wasn't work and I had a cold beer
I wasn't too minded to care
September sun heat
no denial of fact
twenty-five degrees celsius
attesting to that
So it was back to the beach
to sit in the sun
at Saturday teatime
til evening was come
Sound of the waves
breaking surf on the shore
as we 'hutters' enjoy
what the beach is here for
and the ambient peace
something we always find
helps us relax
as we sit and unwind
Yes I know that I've written
many times here before
of this place on the beach
and I suspect there'll be more
but I make no apologies
for that fact here
as this place is a haven
and always brings cheer
A beach full of shingle
beside the blue sea
a most English of channel
and perfect for me
Long days have I spent here
in the summer sun
and many more will I still
until I am done
And that's a long time
many more years I trust
for coming down to the beach
as I know that I must
for as long as I'm mobile
this place it will be
my haven exquisite
so close to the sea
I'm on the beach again
surprising I'd say
as it's lovely down here
on this fine summer day
and although it's a weekday
you'd have thought that some might
venture down to the beach
to enjoy the sunlight
Not that I'm bothered
for it's great here for me
on a deserted beach
right next to the sea
And they are the ones
missing out on all this
whilst I lap it up
and revel in the bliss
Came back to the beach hut
the weather was fine
and with no one else here
the beach was all mine
A warm breeze from the east
blew in from the sea
and the sun overhead
smiled brightly on me
And I knew this was better
than work any day
so it's nice to have one
I can spend in this way
Shaped though many hours
by the touch of sea and sand
this wonderful breakwater
now moulded by their hand
encapsulates the aura
that this seascape holds for me
from a life spent here in Sussex
on the beach and near the sea
This sculpted inspiration
with a charm there of its own
has long held fascination
from the years here I have known
and though these precious heirlooms
are now fading over time
I will capture them for memory
where they stay uniquely mine
The beach is a landscape
when the tide is this low
the sky big and wide
with the shingle below
the water far distant
with rocks in between
with familiar seaweed
we've so often seen
yet it still brings excitement
for adventure and more
which over the years
we have used this beach for
So we'll treasure this landscape
by the edge of the sea
which has long given pleasure
to this family
and under the sky
with its canopy wide
we will wander and still
in its friendship confide
for we are as one
this landscape, this reach
down here in fair Sussex
and at home on the beach
...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...
