Sussex Trails

These hills, these ways, these wildflower trails
so many times traversed
and yet in absence, no regret
as evidenced by verse
For here I'm in my element
my heartstrings pulled to smile
whenever I'm on Sussex trails
for mile on wondrous mile

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Dogsmiling

A Woozle went a-running
in a field in the sun
his ears pointing upright
as he galloped on the run
Thunderpaws by nature
they were thundering today
as he ran around in circles
with a 'hip hip hip hooray'
For this was joy unbridled
unfettered running free
expressed there in his features
with a dog smile full of glee

©Jemverse

Photo – Obi Wan Kinobi running in his field – Jempics

Sandcastle

We made the best sandcastle
that a beach has ever seen
it took us several hours to make
a mark where we had been
Little children paused to stare
and admire it with a smile
for it was truly massive
and took all of us a while
It had a moat and curtain walls
bridges, steps and towers
and when we'd finished it we knew
that it was wholly ours
We'd made the best sandcastle
Camber sands has ever seen
and whilst it stands you'll surely know
that Crouchers there have been

©Jemverse

Photo – ‘Seahorse castle’, Camber Sands, Sussex, May 2022 – Jempics

Guaranteed

Never a dull day, an adage to hold
whether skies be bright blue or all grey
keep a smile on the face and a glint in the eye
is something to live by each day
Sometime it is harder than others I know
but there's always a place there to find
just a 'je ne sais quoi' or other obscure
to help you relax and unwind
And that glint in the eye, may it never fade
six decades truthful to me
so just give it a chance, try it out for a day
and you'll notice the change, guaranteed

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Daffodil

Twelve scribings revisited; Part 2 in the Jemverse ‘Malleable Days’ series

I think that if there’s one
thing to remind me of the Spring
It is the humble daffodil
and the pleasure it will bring
It’s all about the yellow
Bringing warmth sealed by the sun
and it’s something of the promise
at shadow’s end with light begun
From the monochrome of winter
the brightest colour for a while
The bright but humble daffodil
is sure to bring a smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

‘Daffodil‘ was first published via Jemverse on 22 March 2015

Supermarket daffodils

A splash of vibrant yellow
on the table brought a grin
reminded us of summer 
from this winter place we're in
Supermarket daffodils
several weeks ahead of Spring
have no sense of timing
yet encourage us to sing
And we two there in unison
a fine voice raised aloud
to join in with the yellow
of this happy vibrant crowd

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

A kindness

It's not being selfish as sometimes you need
a kindness extended to self
a pampering here
for a top up of cheer
all to keep you in perfect health

And it's not just your body but your mind of course too
that needs looking after each day
mental health care
to keep you aware
and help you along on your way

So a day given over to yourself is well spent
for a kindness once in a while
to bring peace of mind
and help you unwind
all topped up with a good healthy smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Aspiration

Accused of recalcitrance
well maybe that's true
when it comes to the verse that I write
For I see little merit
so will always give credit
to a smile and bring it to the light

For that is my virtue
my license to use
no matter how I might feel
As a bright word to me
is one needed to be
if by it something there needs to heal

So this is the stance
this poet adopts
and has and will to the end
as it's easy to smile
every once in a while
The sentiment here will transcend

And that as an epitaph
is one to aspire
as to reach it and thought of as so
is all I could ask
so I'm up for the task
and will daily give it a go

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Here comes Friday

And with morning three words came
'Here comes Friday' my waking eye
with silent whisper
said, I beamed
The sunshine decided September
had still more summer to give
warmth remaining
here it seemed
And outside my window the golden one
waved gregariously from the East
with its hat on
Comfort gleaned

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The forbidden word

Yes I know it’s a word

which for me’s rarely hidden

yet as I use it so much

my wife has forbidden

But I really can’t help it

so here as a poet

I’ll resist but I’m tempted

so much, don’t you know it!

…

For example today

on my bench for a while

I sat in the sunshine

which brought on a smile

and there in an instant

is the ‘S’ word again

brought in to rhyme

in this little refrain

…

And though it’s so short

just five letters long

it conveys so much

so its usage is strong

The emotion it carries

is second to none

so here for a poet

what’s done is done

…

So I’m sorry my dear

but try hard as a I might

the use of a smile is

my poet’s birthright

and as what I do

in the words from my pen

is regale the nice things

that I see now and then…

…

…I’m afraid that its use

is inevitable here

as it always describes

the joy and the cheer

that every so often

every once in a while

captures the happiness

born of a smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics