Sunset coming

There's a sunset coming though a ways off yet
I can see the glow to the West
as the evening time approaches now
a bid at my behest

It's yellow, pink and pastel
and full of warming glow
foretelling of a different time
that all too soon I'll know

It's a sunset of the summer
one of a perfect day
and though it's lasted many years
I'm ready now I'd say

So here I breathe and deeply
satisfaction is replete
as the sunset coming gathers pace
and sees this time complete

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

[And yes…there’s a metaphor here. Third line of verse three gives a clue to what it portends. But I suspect there will be several more over the next few months to give the game away]

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40th

In days of heady youth, future just a dream
the wisdom of a caring mother prompted application
to an embryonic beginning

Forecasting fortitude to longevity never seen
decades passed to forty years
and as youth acquiesced to age, retirement loomed

Now wisdom of age to fruition seen, the curtain call
beckons to a new beginning
at this evening sunset of a twilight year

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics; the Jemdrift driftwood sculpture ‘Time’ (2001)

[Tomorrow – 28 February 2023, I’ll have been part of the UK’s Civil Service for 40 years]

Fudgel

No.8 in the ‘Colloquy’ series

Don't get the wrong impression
my colleagues, reading this
as I'm not one for fudgel
as for me my work is bliss

But on occasion there are times
especially of late
when a fudgel is more common
in attempts to graciate

As with retirement looming
ever closer now these days
I find myself succumbing to
a new relaxing phase

©Jemverse

[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. ‘Fudgel’ is a verb and is defined as the act of giving the impression you’re working when you’re not.]

London Tales #1

I'd forgotten the five o'clock darkness
on these cool autumn days
comfortable in ignorance
I've become set in my ways

Thankfully though this daily trudge
this commute in darkened time
is something I can live without
as it is no longer mine

Save this week to London
once more to the 'Big Smoke'
before the dawn has made it
and I have yet awoke

©Jemverse

Photo – early morning London – Jempics

From this our piece of land

The extended lotty's taking shape
as Sal and I are there to make
the best of all the toils we take
from this our piece of land

It's looking good and we are proud
so we will shout that fact aloud
no hiding behind veil or shroud
from this our piece of land

And by and by when comes the rain
we'll plant some crops and then again
see produce to our table lain
from this our piece of land

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Three Days

With darkness outside at the end of the night
I am tired and stifle a yawn
it is quiet and yet still I'm up with the lark
at this early hour shy of the dawn
And I have to say pleased it is only three days
each week that this I must do
as today I am feeling my sixty plus years
and would gladly these long days eschew
Just one more to master and then some respite
four days of a weekend in store
to chill and relax and slumber enjoy
before heading back for three more

©Jemverse

Photo – Looking up at the Shard, London Bridge Station, just after dawn – Jempics

Normality

It's a first for me today
no trains for quite time
not since the first lockdown
have I braved the ridden line

And yet today to Worthing
I must venture yet again
for my first day in an office
and a journey on a train

So I'm taking all precaution
best foot forward and the rest
to make the day enjoyable
my safety to invest

And I know that it will all be fine
despite the butterflies
that I've now got in my tummy
which I guess is no surprise

So Shoreham station here I come
to travel on a train
and take another step to bring
normality again

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Sunshine VII

Thought I'd missed the sunshine
but thank goodness there it was
the sunspot in the garden
in full sun still there because
although we are north-facing
the setting in the West
gives us sunshine in the garden
until six o'clock at best

Apart from this small haven
where to catch the final rays
the bench that we have placed here
sees the later sun most days
So that is where I ran today
as soon as work was done
to settle in and raise my brow
and feel the warming sun

©Jemverse

Photo – Wolfgang catching some final rays – Jempics

The Plan (part III)

I’ve carried the frames

one by one down the the road

as they were quite awkward

so, to lessen the load

I decided four hikes

was better than two

to get the frames there

well you would, wouldn’t you?

…

So now the plan gets

at last to part three

a no-dig solution

for Sally and me

Next will be cardboard

laid over the grass

followed by compost

‘cos digging’s a farce

…

And then all the plants

from small seeds we’ve sewn

and coaxed to fruition

in the sunlight at home

we can plant in our frames

and watch them all grow

as the Spring turns to Summer

and the frosty times go

…

By and by then part four

of this saga I’ll write

when the next chapter’s down

with fruition in sight

Then I hope that the picture

shows results in the making

with reward to us both

for the pains we are taking

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Part 1 ‘Back to the allotment‘ – 24 March 2021

Part 2 ‘The Plan (Part II)‘ – 18 April 2021

The Plan (Part II)

We built some raised borders

for the allotment to grow

laid them out in the garden

where they’re ready to go

…

Just one minor problem

they’ll not fit in the car

but the allotment is close

and not very far

…

And the frames they are light

so I’ll carry them there

one on each shoulder

not too much to bare

…

And in situ the plan

is for cardboard and compost

for a ‘no dig’ solution

which cuts down the work cost

…

Especially when all

the produce has grown

and the fruit of our labours

by the plan we’ll have shown

©Jemverse

Photo Jempics

Part 1 of this little series was published as ‘Back to the allotment‘ on 24th March 2021