I have an inclination
one deep-seated, born of dream
partly wishful thinking but
ever-growing with a smile of whimsy
to which I will return from time to time
For it is something to cherish
teetering on the brink of promise
[In the ‘Colloquy’ series, I’m exploring some of the English language’s more obscure words. Some little used, some no longer used but all recondite. ‘Velleity’ is a noun and is defined as a wish or inclination not yet strong enough to lead to action.]
'For not' or 'not for'
in juxtaposition
two different meanings
for intent or for mission
Language of substance
for writer and poet
who will always exploit
as it's they who will know it
Is this the last line or the first?
is my syntax back to front?
or is this perhaps the middle
I don't know - it's worth a punt
Perhaps I'm discombobulated?
Maybe you are now as well?
and reaching for the dictionary
(believe me - I can tell)
For actually we're nine lines in
and nearing now the end
of this little series ditty
which I've written for a friend
[In the ‘Colloquy’ series, I’m exploring some the of English language’s more obscure words. Some little used, some no longer used but all recondite. ‘Discombobulate’ is a noun and means to disconcert or confuse.]
The circumstance of words
from a pen there to flow
is something which only
a thought comes to know
But when committed to paper
as ink passes through
these words take on meaning
as they come into view
And the curl of a smile
from the poet reveals
the wisdom he shares
from the thoughts that he feels
In the silent refraction of a New Year sun
as slowly in the thin Eastern sky
its distant yellow rays struggled,
January arrived to a silent world
Almost as if in slow motion, life passed
as through my window with early eyes
a perception of a whispered promise
echoed across a vacant sky
And the curl of a smile gathered pace
calming like a summer breeze
spoke long vicissitudes
with wisdom to a sleepy morning
Twenty-nine letters; testament to the fact
that in estimation and to be exact
the action describing this noun in these words
is so far from worthless as to be absurd
[In the ‘Colloquy’ series, I’m exploring some the of English language’s more obscure words. Some little used, some no longer used but all recondite. ‘Floccinaucinihilipilification’ is a noun and is the habit of estimating something as worthless]
[Of Poets and Words was first posted as the first of three parts in January 2019. Parts 2 and 3 are here and here]
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's a time when the writer
finds words which just flow
when inspiration has tangible
substance you know
and the lines just appear
with the syntax to flow
to craft into stories
for poets to show
So one day you should visit
at daylight's first glow
as in your heart I am sure
you know it's where to go
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 may be true, it may be not
in wintertime to feel quite hot
that actually would say a lot
as you may well be ill
Yet verisimilitudes may well
get in the way and seem to tell
that ailments are there to quell
with warmth opposed to chill
Today's overmorrow Tuesday will be
and the week will just have begun
then two overmorrows thereafter we'll see
a week that is almost done
But three overmorrows, it's not long to wait
if a week you need to pass by
so take that to heart and you will find
that time will literally fly
‘Overmorrow’ means ‘the day after tomorrow’, an Old English word used (it seems) for just a short period of time in the early to mid sixteenth century.
...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...
Jemverse 