Pond Water

There’s a pub in Brighton called ‘The Pond’
closed of course at present
as every pub in England is
which is a bit unpleasant
It serves a pint they brew themselves
‘Pondwater’ – quite sublime
which I will savour once again
quite soon, I trust, sometime

And though the connotation is
contrary I’ll agree
planting in the pond today
reminded me you see
as planting in pond water
new plants new hope to bring
a thought popped in just as they do
that’s worth remembering

Such are these thoughts, these pleasantries
on which our hopes we pin
with expectation promise
from this Covid time we’re in
And emerge we will victorious
when time is right once more
to savour all these pleasures
which we cherish and adore

©Jemverse

Photos – Jempics

Over Brighton Tonight

A sky atmospheric
over Brighton tonight
met us on the beach
reflecting the light

Spectacular was
the view there that we
had to pause for a while
by the night-blackened sea

To take stock of it all
and to apply a measure
by which we could capture
this wonderful treasure

©Jemverse

Photo – the Brighton night skyline from West Beach, Shoreham – Jempics

Old and new (haiku)

Through the grandiose
a glimpse of today’s Brighton
History merges

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Brighton pastel (haiku)

Reflecting Brighton
bathed in pastel colour here
December sunset

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

A 60th tale

A day out in Lewes
with the girls in the sun
Browsing antique shops
and all having fun
Here for Sal’s sixtieth
Celebrations start here
Two months for us all
in this special year

We’ve had olives and coffee
at ‘Bills’ for a treat
and later ‘The Snowdrop’
for a beer sounds sweet
We’ve danced in the square
with a man on a flute
and paused on the bridge
watching one with a lute

We’re brought things for the garden
and stationary too
and second-hand clothes
of course, as you do
And best thing of all
and the reason we came
was Cliffe High Street antiques
for some presents again

Three tall iron sculptures
for the garden outside
pre-rusted for us
with iron oxide
And now that we’re done
with Lewes behind
we head back to Brighton
with dinner in mind

Bangers and mash
in the pub on the hill
With plenty of choice
’til we’ve had our fill
An excellent day
it has been for us all
With memories made
we will oft now recall

And the star of the show
for our own Sally Ann
her sixtieth birthday
has been rather grand
Precious these are
these family days
with memories to treasure
in so many ways

©Jemverse

Photo – the three iron garden sculptures we brought at Cliffe High Street antiques centre in Lewes on 16th May 2019, in situ – Jempics

i-360

Went for a flight
in Brighton today
British Airways
but not in a plane
Five hundred feet plus
straight up in the sky
on the i-360
ever so high

Excellent views
of Brighton below
and over to Shoreham
out there on show
Bank holiday Monday
all six together
We always have fun
and will do forever

©Jemverse

Photo – The British Airways i360, a 162-metre (531 ft) observation tower on Brighton seafront – Jempics.

Fire and Glass

Sat a while in Junkyard Dog
to hear the music play
Guitars, fiddle, vocals too
September Saturday

Good conversation flowing
here for private view
Fire drawings by my daughter
Sal’s glass for something new

Junkyard Dog the setting
Artwork from my family
Six Crouchers here together
in Brighton by the sea

©Jemverse

Photo – glass by Sally Croucher; burnt wood drawings by Emily Rose Croucher – Jempics. [Junkyard Dog is a cafe in the Kemp Town area of Brighton, East Sussex, UK]

Got a new pen

What once was Brighton’s bead shop
now sells stationary
Upmarket and pretentious
but good enough for me
For on a shelf, bright colours
a row of writing pens
So I just had to have one
as I do that now and then

It’s rather good for poems
which I write ‘most every day
to capture life in words
and the things I want to say
And just as Gracey said it would
the one she showed me there
writes just like a dream
and is beyond compare

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Jem’s new hat

Wandered round in Brighton
brought a brand new hat
Blue to match my sunglasses
Sylish (that’s a fact)
Felt much like a rock star
walking round the place
with lovely Brighton people
and a smile upon my face
It only cost a tenner
but it’s not about the price
For Jem’s new hat is perfect
and it’s really rather nice

©Jemverse

Photo – hat shadow play, South Lancing beach, West Sussex – Jempics

Oasis

Sat in St Nicholas’ churchyard
high up on the hill
overlooking Brighton
with all around me still

Sipped a bold, strong coffee
the sunshine breaking through
with history around me
which from my past I knew

There’s change around about of course
new buildings stark and cold
yet Brighton’s essence here remains
quintessentially old

A haven with a tranquil peace
God’s hand is present here
A little bit of heaven
with the bustling city near

©Jemverse

Photo – St Nicholas’ Churchyard, Brighton, East Sussex, UK (founded 1091) – Jempics