Born to the sun VI

Born to the sun and born to a beach
which I'm going to now 'cos it's in easy reach
and today is my birthday and I'm sixty-three
so a day in the sun makes good sense to me
I'll be there with the Beans so it will be the best
for good conversation, some laughs and the rest
and this evening much later to Brighton we'll go
for a meal and some beers to conclude the show

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

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Thirty-five years proud

Thirty five years to this day
the snow lay on the ground
and I walked proud through Brighton
with no-one else around
Still then in my late twenties
new life I'd seen that morn
when in the early hours
our Emily Rose was born
And though some time has passed since then
I still write proud with prose
on another February morning
a most 'Happy Birthday' Rose

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Forever eighty-seven

Happy Birthday my Mother
you'd have been ninety today
but forever instead
eighty-seven you'll stay

The time of your passing
though sad was still right
but I still shed a tear
on occasion at night

But on fifth of September
remembering clear
I see that you're smiling
so Happy Birthday, my dear

©Jemverse

Photo – A big eldest son with a little Mum – Sally Croucher

Married on a birthday

Went to a birthday party
in Surrey, Saturday night
took us a while to get there
but that was quite alright

Loud cheers when we got there
the celebrations had begun
so we hurried there to join them
so we'd not miss out the fun

And we found the cheers had purpose
for the birthday and for now
as my brother had got married
on his birthday with a vow

Charles and Geoff now family proper
overjoyed does not come close
celebrating birthday marriage
on this day to juxtapose

I am a proud and elder brother
this is the best news in a while
exuberant jubilation
evident within my smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Emily Rose Croucher – Charles & Geoff Croucher/Hack

Born to the sun V

Back in the fifties
and born to the sun
a Thursday's child
knew he had begun

Growing up in the sixties
never sun to eschew
this Thursday's child
was still nearly new

And then came the seventies
formative years
a teen to his twenties
with joy and yes, tears

The eighties and children
a girl and and boy
to this child of the summer
two bundles of joy

And then to the nineties
and two further girls
for more joy and happiness
giggles and curls

Born to the sun
the millennium came
and though he was older
he felt just the same

Twenty-tens and his fifties
the making of man
for wisdom and tenure
as only life can

Which brings us to now
the twenties are here
and a seventh decade
brings more of that cheer

This 'born to the sun'
Thursday's child has long known
with the secret of summer
sixty-two years have shown

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Social distance birthdays

It was murky on the Dyke today
and you could not see far
which really was a pity as
the view’s spectacular

You’ll have to take my word for that
because the picture shows you nowt
of what Sussex has to offer
and what the Weald is all about

But our social distance meeting
was just as joyful as they come
to celebrate a birthday
with the way that we do fun

Five of us in both the cars
and Eddie on the phone
the best that we could offer
as we can’t meet up at home

And though murky with cold drizzle
the warmth the meeting brought
gave us all with the special joy
that times like these they ought

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Thirty-four

On a February day
thirty-four years ago
I remember quite well
the remains of the snow
as on a bright morning
I walked by the sea
so proud of the fact
of no longer ‘to be’
But actually now
a father at last
all those long months of waiting
now finally past
For there on that day
to Sally and me
the gift of a daughter
with our Emily

©Jemverse

Photo – Emily Rose on her 33rd birthday – Jempics

Born to the sun IV

Past sixty-one summers
I was born to the sun
a new Thursday’s child
to the world then had come
At the end of the fifties
the Rock n Roll years
a little boy blue
as the sixties they neared

And appropriate now
as that decade I see
this child of the summer
his spirit still free
So here on the day
I was born to this earth
this Thursday’s child
knows the sun for its worth

©Jemverse

Picture – ‘Sunshine splash #1’ by the author

Of Beacons and Mud

Went for a walk for a birthday
All of us met at the Star
heading off to the Beacon
via Falmer so not all that far
Up through the woods over Stanmer
frolicking under the trees
rained a lot here so the mud was
quite frequently up to our knees

The sunshine made an appearance
and the rain kept away for the day
replaced with wind that was boisterous
and with us for most of the day
But we found our way to the Beacon
and took pictures there of the Weald
before heading downwards to Ditchling
down steep paths and more muddy yield

The Bull was packed and was heaving
but we found a table where we
could sit for a while with a pint and a laugh
by the window when it became free
And then it was all back to Shoreham
legs aching and needing a rest
safe in the knowledge that days like these
are always the absolute best

©Jemverse

My eldest daughter – Emily Rose (forefront right) – hosts a traditional walk every year for her birthday. This year we walked from Falmer to Ditchling via Stanmer Woods. Photo – Jempics

The beach is a birthday

At the beach hut on my birthday
(I was sixty yesterday)
And whilst not exactly sunny
It was perfect anyway
The sea was like a diamond
Flat calm, a lovely sight
Mirror-like, reflecting
the sky above so bright

There were rain clouds over Worthing
out there to the west
But also really peaceful
in this place I love the best
Besides, I had a brolly
and with clearer sky behind
even when the raindrops fell
I really didn’t mind

The beach it is a birthday
and come most every year
I’ll do my level best to come
as it’s always lovely here
Yesterday it was so tranquil
with no one else around
Just me, the beach and seagulls
and the calming ocean sound

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics