That lavender time again VII

I've long had a passion for lavender and
that time of years' here with clippers in hand
my Trug* will be filled with fragrance divine
which I've grown through the year and now is all mine
Sometimes there are casualties, plants come and go
some prosper well, but others (you know)
may give a few flowers then give up the ghost
but that's not too often and thankfully most
at this time of year when summer is high
bring my lavender heaven replete for a sigh

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

*A Trug is a Sussex woven basket made from a handle and rim of coppiced sweet chestnut wood which is hand-cleft then shaved using a drawknife. 

Advertisement

That lavender time again V

Permeating everywhere
heaven’s scent again
that ‘lavender time’ is here once more
bring on that sweet refrain

An afternoon spent bagging it
that heady fragrance there
as I breathe in its loveliness
a thing beyond compare

And what is totally sublime
is that throughout the year
I simply have to squeeze a bag
to rekindle summer cheer

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

[In July each year, one of my favourite pastimes is a day spent bagging the dried crop from my annual lavender harvest. Although I’ve been doing this for years, the last five (2016 through 2020) have been marked with a ‘That lavender time again’ poem, added to Jemverse on 23 July each year]

Farewell but not goodbye

Today we say farewell to you
but definitely not goodbye
For some day we will meet again
when comes the day we die

So here’s to you our Mother dear
we’ll miss you, that’s the truth
But you are in a better place
A smiling John and Ruth

Say hello to Dad for me
and sing with us a while
on this your celebration day
as I try my best to smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Ruth Eunice Shrimpton (was Croucher, nee Dainton) – 5 September 1931 to 20 May 2019 – published on the day of her life celebration – Friday 14 June 2019 – Jempics

Heaven for all

Let’s face it, its only
when we get there we’ll know
at the end of the race
who will get there to go

But I’m these days convinced
that there’ll be no exceptions
for that is a failing
of mankind’s perception

For a God who once had
perfection as planned
will I’m sure want to see
a return to that and

Who of us is to say
that in final release
all will return for
a share in that peace?

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Heaven, waiting, sings

It’s peaceful here, these darkened rooms
this ward, this evening hour
A deepened sleep. Breath in, breath out
from this still fading flower

Autumn’s come to this long life
as here we sit and wait
knowing that the time is close
The hour now is late

Breath in, breath out. A comfort here
We listen and we hear
Feeling peaceful, resolute
there falls a passing tear

Earlier we shared a prayer
the five of us as one
on this an evening of a day
to one of us now come

Breath in, breath out. The comfort stays
yet, waiting in the wings
the loved ones who have passed before
as heaven, waiting, sings

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Heaven sent

Lavender is heaven sent
bringing peace and contentment
typified with fragrant scent
expressed here in this sentiment

©Jemverse

Summer Knows

 

Purple fields
fragrance high
sunshine bright
deep a sigh
Lavender
in perfect rows
ripe for harvest
summer knows

Healing here
in nature’s hand
growing on the
Sussex land
A little piece
of heaven here
oozing peace and
bringing cheer

©Jemverse

First Lavender II

Summer brings a fragrance
which is heaven in a scent
Sweet lavender, my saving grace
my senses to augment

It’s aroma is quite gorgeous
and of it I’ll never tire
Quintessential loveliness
to cherish and admire

©Jemverse

 

A little box of heaven

I have a little box of heaven
which I’m watching carefully
As I’ve nurtured every seedling
as you would quite naturally

And yes, I know they’re on the small side
but they’re growing all the time
So I’m confident that fairly soon
I’ll be rewarded with a sign

Maybe later on this year
or maybe next, who knows?
It depends how fast my heaven
and my lavender, it grows

©Jemverse

 

Eight miles

Eight miles took us past the Ring
where the view as ever was
breathtaking in the sunshine
on the South Downs here because
(and I know that some will argue)
but this is heaven here on earth
A place that God has smiled upon
and with riches given worth

And that gift was on this lovely day
not lost on us as we
trod these eight familiar miles
with hearts of joy and glee

©Jemverse