The sheep in the meadow got closer and closer
as I watched them and daydreamed away
and every so often they'd give me a glance
here at the end of a day
It was a good daydream as daydreams they go
and it filled me with feelings of calm
as the sheep in the meadow meandered their way
towards me on this Sussex farm
So I stood in the corner of the field for a while
as the shadows of evening crept in
and a day again passed fading slowly away
to show me where I had been
And it was a good place to revisit all this
as the sheep made their way towards me
for I knew in that moment with clarity there
what it meant to truly be free
I am a dog of many names
but one that's apt of late
is 'Thunderpaws' that's come about
from changes to my gait
Let me explain, if you've a mo
you see, 'most every week
my humans both provide the chance
for freedom so to speak
For I should add I am a dog
who's not good in the street
but get me to an open field
and life for me is sweet
The one they take me too I'll say
is perfect there for me
as it affords three acres
for my thunder paws to free
And I will run and run and run
in circles or just straight
with one thing there for certain
which you'll notice from my gait
The noise my paws make on the ground
when I am running there
'Thunderpaws' by nature
for the sound I love to share
The big black dog he wasn’t there
this second Friday evening
but I wasn’t all that bothered
(it was actually quite relieving)
For it meant of course that all this space
was mine to run around
have a sniff, enjoy myself
my field on Sussex ground
And the black dog with the longer legs
wasn’t there so I
had the place all to myself
to spend this hour by
It was again a freedom
that my two humans give
every Friday evening for
this little chap to live
[Every Friday evening my humans take me (Obi Wan Kinobi) to a three-acre dog-friendly field for an hour of unbridled freedom. A couple of weeks back though, they unwisely thought it was good idea for me to meet their daughter’s dog (Wolfgang Amadeus). We knew it wasn’t so I was really pleased to have the place to myself again. Wolfgang – a Patterdale Terrier – is big and black and has long legs. I’m a brown Jack Russell/Dachshund cross with short legs].
I have a field I go to
every Friday night
It’s mine to run around in
and there’s no-one else in sight
I’m also fairly certain
that no other dogs go there
I’ve certainly never seen one
and I don’t think they would dare
For this field it is my haven
and I love to run around
quite free in its three acres
on the chalky Sussex ground
And sometimes my two humans
will bring a little treat
which I will get get freely
by simply looking sweet
So I’m content to walk with them
when I have had a run
or have a sniff around the trees
it’s all part of the fun
My field it is a lovely place
and my humans they are great
for giving me the freedom
every Friday for a date
Found a field at Horsebridge
out near Ashurst way
for an hour of pure freedom
on an evening of a day
Three acres all protected
by a rabbit fence all round
with trees and luscious grass of green
upon the chalky ground
And Obi had a lovely time
running here and there
unrestricted off his lead
to run without a care
It was a lovely thing to see
so Houndie House you know
that you will now be somewhere
where we three will often go
I found a freedom at sunset today
went out for a ride on my bike
Not many cars on the roads still of course
so I could go wherever I liked
Took a route by the airport at first
no planes on the field there in sight
felt a bit odd but then everything is
including an absence of flight
Crossed by the Pad to Old Botolphs road
the sun sinking low in the sky
peddled on down the quiet country lane
as tiny young rabbits hopped by
Paused on the crest to take in the view
the little church waiting down there
then whizzed down the hill freewheeling and fast
with the wind blowing warm in my hair
To the river and sunset over the hill
sinking down low in the west
Caught in this place where the view here I think
is probably one of the best
Then on home to Shoreham-by-Sea where I live
my bike taking me there quite soon
under a blue sky where in the east there arose
a wonderful new supermoon
It’s been nine weeks but now there’s talk
of lifting the restriction
Not sure how I feel ’bout that
given my conviction
that back when all this started
we were in for the long haul
and resolute I stayed inside
til we overcame it all
Still not sure that time has come
so with my profile I’ll stay low
and until I’m really positive
I’ll keep it nice and slow
For I’ve no doubt that by and by
the day will come when we
can make a reappearance
and be safe and virus free
My feet in the water
in Wellington boots
down on the sea shore
from whence come my roots
The soft wavelets lapping
as the light fades away
and we come here walking
at the end of the day
For this vacant seascape
holds richness and more
which I’ll always treasure
for it I adore
And I’ll never tire
of this vista I see
down by the water
where I can be free
I went for a ride
on my bike round the town
The streets were all quiet
with no one around
Just as well though I thought
as it’s not worth the risk
although on my bike
I could get away brisk
For although here the freedom
the riding brings me
I want to stay healthy
and keep virus free
So a ride of an evening
when everything’s still
is sometime I might
and I think often will
I had a little dream
about the things I used to do
not so very long ago
but now complete taboo
Simple things like walking out
to town and wandering round
taking pleasure in the things
which in a charity shop I’d found
Or sitting with good friends
in the pub just down the lane
for a couple of pale ales
and a natter and a game
But though these are impossible
at the moment there is hope
that I cling to with a promise
which allows me here to cope
For there will come a time
before the summer’s done
when we can see those things again
and dance out in the sun
So until that time comes round
I will make the most of things
biding time until the day
when freedom once more sings
...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 