Seagull silhouetted on the canvas roof
as we sat with cup of tea
in January sunshine there with Sal
and Holly, Grace, Wolfgang and me
He made a happy picture there
synonymous, replete
so I quickly took a picture
making this fine day complete
I have written of winter, the chill and the rain
and the ice and the snow and the shivers again
of the iron cold muster that lingers and bites
finding its way into warmth with a spite
But throughout all of this always I have half a mind
on the warmer days coming I know soon I'll find
For it's January now but soon I'll see May
and the sunshine that'll soon brighten my day
Winter clung fast
to April’s last day
with rain and strong winds
to greet first of May
Yet there is still time
for the sunshine to come
with promise of summer
born of the sun
Over the years I have titled several poems with the preposition ‘of’ – so this last Jemverse mini-series of 2022 pulls some of those back together again
It rained and rained and blew and blew
felt as it it almost knew
the sunshine there to long eschew
and me inside to stay
The puddles outside deepened still
they lake-like flowed and rippled til
the fickle weather made me ill
and added to the fray
But then the sunshine threw its toys
out of its pram and with good poise
revealed the warmth its strength employs
to welcome a new day
Sunshine returned, it's cooler now
but the beach beckoned silent to me
and I heard its voice and quickened to that
with a wander down to the sea
Catching again the glimmer out there
as the sun on the water it shone
reminded me that these moments in time
need capturing lest they are gone
So I wandered a while on the shore with my friend
as the shingle crunched under my feet
watching the waves as out there they danced
at one with the world and complete
For it's there that I'm always the best I can be
I'm content in my happy place here
just watching the ocean, salt in the air
unbridled exuberance of cheer
Caught a bus into work
'cos the wind was quite high
and overnight it had blown
something onto the line
so the trains were all cancelled
but buses were still
accepting our tickets
for a walk with a will
But the walk was well worth it
and I made quite the most
as the route that it took
was alongside the coast
and the bonus awaiting
on the beach at the end
was a glimpse of the sunrise
which with words here I send
Across the way St James' Tower
its clock face in the sun
as morning breaks in London
and the night time is all done
There's promise in that glow
of a lovely day to come
the sky already cloudless blue
the rain there quick to shun
So I will hasten out there
for some walking for a while
here in central London
in the Parliamentary Mile
Some say it debilitates
that may be true
yet never from sunshine
you'll see me eschew
for as had been said here
many times in the past
I was born of the summer
and that fact will last
So to sunshine and warmth
I will gravitate and
promulgate all its virtues
so you'll understand
Our new bench sun trap captures the sun
right at the end of the day
Surrounded by lavender, it’s just what we need
for a rest from the frack and the fray
As we’re north facing, the sun to the rear
leaves when it’s low in the sky
So it’s great to have somewhere to sit and enjoy
it now until evening comes by
Yellow, warming, lifts my soul
Catches me and comforts. Gives me strength
Encourages smiles when smiles are scarce.
Breathes contentment.
It is a friend, closer in the summertime;
More distant in winter chill. But always there.
Always listening. Always rooting for my best interests.
It is lavender and jasmine and honeysuckle
Combined and lingering in the evening air.
...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...