Winter greyness seldom sun
Brittle chill for everyone
Daylight precious shorter now
Nighttime lingers on somehow
Yet still to find and bring some cheer
Despite the chill a beauty here
As winter hides but brings to fore
a treasure kept for us in store
I watched the shilling spinning
it was mine in no small measure
Enough to buy two Matchbox cars
to hold and keep and treasure
The fingers twisted blithely
as they caught and spun again
but I saw no abandon
found no one there to blame
For today was like a birthday
though mine was months away
when my uncle gave a shilling
on that special Saturday
And the Matchbox cars I purchased
for a purpose there to measure
are with me still as both I’ve held
and kept close as a treasure
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
There in the silence a single leaf fell
slowly down to the ground
from the tree it had lived on throughout the year
with the slightest whisper of sound
Yet no sadness here, no falling from grace
but exuberant moment of glee
as a new golden treasure shone bright at its best
at the end of its life radiantly
Through a gap in the bushes
I spied Shoreham town
nestled there under the Downs
twixt me and the sea
safe there in the lea
the bearer of treasure and crowns
And I smiled in the knowledge
that this was my home
the place I am so pleased to live
for it has everything
to make my heart sing
with the riches it serves there to give
Enriched I am carried
as if on a cloud
to this place of fulfilment
my head duly bowed
For it is with all honour
and privilege here
that I share in this glory
at this time of year
So in luxury carried
to this opulent place
I am full of awe
at receipt of this grace
For it is quite purely
at nature's behest
that I am invited
as a valued guest
On the table outside
are memories we treasure
rocks and pebbles from Dorset
hold joy beyond measure
Some fossils, all lovely
some plain and some not
we love every one
and are pleased with the lot
And they're out there for purpose
to get wet in the rain
for then we can see them
as we found them again
Fresh, wet from the sea
with their lines and their form
which fascinated us then
and now our table adorn
Our treasures from Dorset
for us always to hold
displayed in our garden
and as precious as gold
The second of four and the rain
a threat yesterday has arrived
Yet here on the set of November cast
the sun's in my heart and I thrive
For it really is all about seizing the day
and the treasure trove waiting a find
So seldom the time to fret about things
which are mostly figments in mind
This time last year
the weather was mellow
and in spite of restrictions
a fortunate fellow
was able to cycle
out on the trail
as sunsets of gold
were made to regale
And in light quickly fading
a poem was written
to capture the moment
with which he was smitten
Words duly published
on Jemverse that year
which now I can read
to rekindle that cheer
But don't get me wrong
no lacklustre faced
optimistic as always
that time is released
by new wonders daily
for joy and for pleasure
which with recollection
I have for treasure
I get lost in a good bookshop
they are like a treasure trove
and fortunately Lewes town
has them in spades and droves
So of a Wednesday morning
with the sunshine proving warm
we drove there for a browsing
which for us has been the norm
And in a darkened basement
I found Nirvana waiting there
shelves of ancient volumes
just waiting there to share
their secrets with the reader
who will in their pages find
the treasures that I speak of
for the soul and for the mind
Yes, I get lost in a good bookshop
for with patience and good measure
I know that every time I come
I'll find a waiting treasure.
In moments of lucidity
with my eyes open wide
I clearly see what needs to be
out here and from inside
With 20/20 vision
I take a good look all around
absorbing everything I need
from heavens to the ground
And then when I am satisfied
these treasures I will store
for moments of lucidity
when I will see some more
...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...