December beaches

On the beach a lone kite-surfer came
to brave December chill
as a wintry and forgotten sun
sat in a low sky still

Bright it was in yellow sky
and despite the brittle air
The beauty of that moment
was really special there

But then again, it always is
down on this Southern shore
as whenever we both come this way
we always long for more

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Perfect bliss

The autumn carpet
starts to lay
on this fine Lincoln
autumn day
Gold beneath
my crunching feet
as I go walking
life is sweet

The calm, the solitude
the peace
reflected by
this visual feast
And I am thankful
to see this
Not far I think
from perfect bliss

©Jemverse

Photo – autumn gold falling – Lawress Hall – Lincoln – October 2019 – Jempics

Split II

12 of 12 in ‘The Adriatic Affair’ series from Jemverse

Sitting on deck six
with Split across the way
Picturing all the things
that have made this holiday

It has been all we hoped for
and though we fly home on the morrow
It is with happiness we’re leaving
and not one tinged with sorrow

For we’ve criss-crossed the Adriatic
seen sunshine and some rain
Visited new places and
been back to some again

We’re just a little browner
than we were a week ago
which judging by the time of year
is quite nice to have on show

And we’ve memories a-plenty
captured by the things we’ve seen
and the very many lovely
places this past week we’ve been

So now with quiet reflection
as the ship prepares to sail
returning to Dubrovnik
all these things here I regale

Split, this lovely city
perfect Swansong to this time
so I’ll end this little series
with that thought upon this line

©Jemverse

Photo – sunset over the Adriatic from Split, Croatia – Jempics

[‘Split II’ concludes the series of twelve poems capturing our autumn 2019 ‘Adriatic Affair’ cruise aboard the Marella Celebration. From 24 through 31 October we visited…
24/10 – Dubrovnik, Croatia (‘Finding Summer’ (02/11) and ‘Dubrovnik Divine’ (03/11))
25/10 – Hvar, Croatia (‘Hvar’ (04/11) and ‘Hoorah for Hvar’ (05/11))
26/10 – Ancona, Italy (‘Ancona Encore’ (06/11) and ‘Ancona II’ (07/11))
27/10 – Koper, Slovenia (‘Koper’ (08/11))
28/10 – Venice, Italy (‘Venice (touch & go)’ (09/11) and ‘Venice II’ (10/11))
29/10 – Rijeka, Croatia (‘Rijeka’ (11/11)), and
30/10 – Split, Croatia (‘An unexpected tricycle ride’ (12/11) and ‘Split II’ (13/11))
…before sailing back into Dubrovnik for the flight home on the 31st]

Joy to Share II

So here beneath the leafy green
Another day in Kew
I stand beside the River Thames
and see this lovely view
The tide is high, the water deep
The sky with promise there
As through the trees the sun appears
and I have joy to share

©Jemverse

Photo – the Thames at Kew, Richmond, Surrey – Jempics

First I

1 of 12 in the Jemverse ’12 months III’ series

It’s the first of September
and I’m back at the beach
It seemed like the right thing to do
I mean if you like me lived
with this close at hand
you’d join me right here, wouldn’t you?

There’s a beach hut that’s been
ours for twenty years now
on the green overlooking the sea
which affords a good view
I would never eschew
So come, spend the day here with me

©Jemverse

Photo – Lancing beach, West Sussex from the beach hut – Jempics

Lavender bagging

Bagged up all my lavender
in bunches hung above me
drying out and making
all around me smell quite lovely
A bumper crop this year
has meant a lot more bags to do
which later on as little gifts
may find their way to you

It’s really a cathartic way
to spend a summer day
bagging up the lavender
I’ve grown along the way
A day I spend least once a year
each harvest to remember
Sometimes in late August
Sometimes in September

©Jemverse

Photo – this year’s lavender crop, bagged up and ready to go – Jempics

From diamond seas

To the east the seven sisters
to the west the Isle of Wight
around this sweeping Sussex bay
I have within my sight
And in front of me out to the south
the diamond glinting sea
reflecting southern sunshine
is with me here and free

So no wonder that from time to time
I’ll come and sit and gaze
on Lancing beach for hours
at the ever moving waves
For this is as close to heaven
I can be I’d safely say
here in my perfect haven
on this Sussex coastal bay

©Jemverse