Evening of the day

Tonight I found a sunset
as the river trickled slow
and the deeper blue of night arrived
above the golden glow

It was peaceful there and quiet
not another soul around
so I revelled in the moment
of that special place I’d found

And breathed the air around me
watched the light slip-slide away
as the sunset disappeared
at the evening of the day

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Serendipity

I found myself writing
About somewhere I’d been
And all of the wonderful
Things there I’d seen
The joy and the richness
Of life beyond measure
Captured and held just
Like having treasure
It was special and wholesome
With comfort and ease
To serve as assurance
Unrest to appease
So I drifted away for
A moment to where
I knew that contentment
With pleasure to share
And held on to the wisdom
From this memory
For a moment akin
To serendipity

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The constant sea

These wanders here each evening
when the night’s about to fall
are I think the moments
which we will most recall
When this madness is all over
and we find ourselves again
with whatever becomes normal
and whatever still remains

For there’s one thing here that’s certain
the constant of the sea
which no matter what else changes
will still and always be
So we treasure all our wanders
by the sea in these strange days
for they bring a sense of freedom
and respite from the malaise

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

An unexpected tricycle ride

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

Mario on his tricycle
caught us with his grin
Charmed us so much that we
agreed to go with him

Took us up through Marjan Park
round the headland of the bay
Showed us lots of things that
we’d have never seen today

The peace up in the forest
with pine fragrance in the air
was absolutely lovely
so we’re pleased he took us there

Showed us castles built into the rock
high up above the trees
as we caught glimpses here and there
of peaceful flat-calm seas

Then via Kasjuni beaches
Mario brought us back around
safely on his tricycle
to the walls of the old town

And shaking hands we parted
Split company you could say
(A play on words permitted
for this poem here today)

©Jemverse

Photo – lookout castles built into the rock, Split, Croatia – Jempics

[‘An unexpected tricycle ride’ is the penultimate 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]

Inner soul singing

Many years have I sat here
alone in the sun
from early in morning
until day is done
I have sea and the seagulls
kite surfers and more
the sun and the view
which I love and adore

And yes times have changed
the years see to that
but I don’t have a problem
with that as a fact
For it’s all part of life
and one lived to the full
encouraged I’d say
by this beach and its pull

For it draws and it beckons
me back to its wings
and when I am here
my inner soul sings
There’s a ‘je ne sais quoi’
just something that is
that brings me a peace
which borders on bliss

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

With Gold

7 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

Got up early
Went for a wander
as the sun rose on Frogmore Lane
Retraced my steps
to the path on the hill
on my own and peaceful again

There were sheep in the field
looking at me
with a quizzical look on their face
Wondered I guess
what I was about
so early in this lovely place

There was birdsong to hear
high up in the trees
a wonderful music and sound
So idyllic here
at this early hour
with no one but me here around

I walked down the path
to sit on a stile
and watch as the morning took hold
And the warmth of the sun
as it rose in the east
painted all that I saw with gold

©Jemverse

Photo – Early morning – Meon Valley, Hampshire, UK – Jempics.

[Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go out for a week’s walking. This year we took in a series of circular walks based around our favourite long-distance trail – the South Downs Way through Hampshire and Sussex]

The Long House

5 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

In the garden out back of the Long House
sitting out here in the sun
The fragrance of jasmine strong in the air
now the early evening has come

It’s peaceful here and idyllic
and I’m so pleased we could return
Here in the East Meon valley
contentment swift to discern

©Jemverse

Photo – The ‘Long House’, East Meon, Hampshire, UK – Jempics.

[Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go out for a week’s walking. This year we took in a series of circular walks based around our favourite long-distance trail – the South Downs Way through Hampshire and Sussex]

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

 

Photo – from #Jemverse on instagram, July 2018 – Jempics

Magnificent III

Between the posts, the sea
the water calm and blue
The bench, a perfect place
to sit and watch the view

And, truth be told, this place
for just a moment spent
with gentle summer breeze
is quite magnificent

A peace I can’t explain
or find the words to say
the calm exuded here
at this time of day

©Jemverse

Photo – tide barrier breakwater, Widewater beach, West Sussex, UK – Jempics

To the river

There are steps to the water
and I don’t know why
Something with meaning
in times now passed by

Perhaps for a boatman
to access his craft
For trade on the river
to board fore and aft

Perhaps for some access
for folk who lived near
and needed to get
to the river right here

Suffice now to say
on this morning in June
it gives me a place
to hum a nice tune

and write down some words
of this place I have found
by the Thames here in Kew
with peace all around

©Jemverse

Photo – the Thames at Kew, West London, UK – June 2018 – Jempics