Ubi sunt for summer

Where are the sunshine days
now winter's cold hand clasps?
Still there though faded now and weak
as summer never lasts

Yet there in the circle promise lies
and breath bated with a smile
knows with reassurance it
will come back in a while

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

[An ‘ubi sunt’ poem poses a rhetorical question derived from the Latin “uni sunt qui ante nos fuerunt” (Where are those that went before us?). Indicating nostalgia,  an ‘ubi sunt’ poem is about the transient nature of things].

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A revitalisation of cheer

Hiding in long shadows
of a small gig still I stood
listening to the music
but wishing that I could
find there the enjoyment
that my friends and others there
clearly understood as in
the moment there they shared

Yet despite the disappointment
in the long shadows here with me
a certain feeling lingered
that I knew with certainty
Said I was meant to be here
as this venue and this place
was testament and evidence
of promise born from grace

A promise of live music
in whatever shape or form
could once again be heard and felt
and be again the norm
So despite the fact the music
here was not my cup of tea
I knew one thing for certain
and with utter clarity

And it definitely wasn't hiding
in long shadows or elsewhere
as it had something to shout aloud
with vibrancy right there
That this time this place this venue
this gig this music here
is what the heart has needed
to revitalise my cheer

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Beginning VII (aka Tri-tanka VIII-beginning)

7 of 12 in the Jemverse ’12 months IV’ series
(& 1 of 7 in Tri-tanka week)

And so March begins
The promises multiply
from nature and man
for spring time and other things
providing wisdom remains

And so March is here
with sunshine already strong
its lack-lustre passed
as it pushes to summer
encouraging new growth

And so March begins
May we please use it wisely
and bring fruition
for it has been a long year
and we are so very close

©Jemverse

Picture – ‘Hayase’ by Yoshida Hiroshi (1933)

Summer to share

The warmth on my shoulder
as I sit here and write
is really quite lovely
in this winter sunlight
It feels just like summer
and if I close my eyes
I can see myself there
with no little surprise

But it’s February now
and though it’s still cold
it won’t be that long
if I may be so bold
before Springtime gathers
and the weather prepares
as its garners itself
the summer to share

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

For when winter is done

A shaft of the sun
hit our north-facing garden
with a word just to say
for a beg of my pardon
A brief glimpse of promise
when the winter is over
and the sun is back out there
for days bathed in clover

Not long to wait now
just eight or nine weeks
as each day gets longer
and sunshine it tweaks
The promise of Springtime
in that shaft of sun
in our north-facing garden
for when winter is done

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Beginning V

5 of 12 in the Jemverse series ’12 months IV’

To the New Year a promise
here made to ones self
to remain true to form
and with all of my wealth
to capture from life
one day at a time
its essence in words
and transpose to line
Resolution here made
with every intention
to keep and to hold
and daily to mention
for these are my words
and this is my gift
from a poet to you
your spirits to lift
So with new beginning
I’ll start with intent
for here is a promise
wholeheartedly meant

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

2020

Reminiscing at conclusion
of this year that has now been
I think back over all that we
have done and all we’ve seen
As it started fairly normally
at the beginning of the year
when none had any reason
to think we’d shed a tear

But just a few weeks later
all the pubs and shops were closed
with people social distanced
diametrically opposed
the world ran out of toilet rolls
and pasta which was strange
as to a locked-in world
our lives we re-arranged

The gigs we’d booked and paid for
slowly changed their dates
and some cancelled altogether
which made us quite irate
But the world outside our window
as the summer it arrived
held promise of a better place
if the virus we survived

So when Pfizer found the vaccine
the whisper turned to shout
and we realised the gifting
this gave to quell the doubt
And as the year concludes now
though in lockdown we remain
there’s hope on the horizon
for a trust to all regain

Twenty twenty all considered
is a year we’d soon forget
but as it draws to a conclusion
none of us have cause to fret
As twenty twenty-one now looms
and we can see the sun
rising on a better day
that has now just begun

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

This time last year III

This time last year
rather innocently
we went up to London
town where did we
gather therein at
the Royal Alert Hall
to raise a loud voice
with glad anthem call
for Christmas carols
there with the throng
as myriad voices
joined there in song

And as we all sang
on the last encore
not one of us knew
what next lay in store
As there in that moment
triumphant the cause
as the joy was repeated
in the loud applauds
But now we have lived
with it under our noses
we have a new hope
as 2020 it closes

So as another new year
waits there in the wings
we hear the loud voice
as the whole nation sings
and the hope we now have
as life it resumes
is evident here
in our joyful tunes
A carol at Christmas
sung loud with the throng
as myriad voices
unite in the song

©Jemverse

Photo – Carols at Christmas – Royal Albert Hall, London – December 2019 – Jempics

Beginning IV

4 of 12 in the Jemverse ’12 months IV’ series

A ‘beginning’ verse to end the year
with the coming of December
The twelfth month dawns and starts today
in this year we’ll all remember
And though one filled with tragedy
Twenty-twenty ends with hope
for with December comes a vaccine
to help the world to cope

And though we’re all still careful
facemarks now worn everywhere
the promise of this vaccine
is for all the world to share
So perhaps this twelfth month after all
will bring Christmas to remember
as one of hope and promise
as we all begin December

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Seasons song

I have a mind’s eye picture
of autumn here to find
which I’d like to share with you
and hope that you don’t mind
For though it’s one of fading
from a summer that’s now passed
it’s also one of hope
which I know is set to last

Yes the winter it is coming
and it will be long and cold
but to the autumn’s promise
throughout that I can hold
For I’ve entered an agreement
binding, absolute and strong
of a new hope come the Springtime
when I’ll sing that seasons song

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics