Home alone

Today I'm here and home alone
'Cos Harry Potter's not my thing
at least not live performance
with encouragement to sing

'Cos that's where all my family
have gone today save me
swanning off to London
so I have the day quite free

Yes, there will be music
a no brainer there, and games
and perhaps a little snooze
as the forecast is for rain

Later on a movie of my choice
I'll maybe watch and view
with nibbles and a jar of ale
filled with my favourite brew

And Obi-wan-Kinobi
our little dog and me
will spend this day when home alone
in perfect company

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

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Monday Lunchtimes

Monday lunchtime at Al Campo
watching life go past
the windows open to the world
with summer here at last

The sunshine's really hot out there
but no-one is complaining
for the start of summer's overdue
from all the Maytime raining

And the four of us with flat whites here
just sharing conversation
enjoy this lunchtime respite
with cathartic reservation

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

‘Al Campo’ is a restaurant/bistro in North Brighton, one of our favourite family meeting places

Taking me time

It’s midweek and I’m on holiday

and enjoying every day

as rest-respite is needed

now and then from the foray

Five days to think of nothing else

but enjoyment just for me

doing stuff I love to do

most of it here for free

…

And this rest and relaxation

is so cathartic that I find

it’s easy to switch off from work

and totally unwind

So here’s to having holidays

doesn’t matter what you do

as the important thing is having fun

and taking time for you

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Holiday VI

Five days off, I can scarce believe it
it’s been a tough few weeks
The hours I’ve worked
have been berserk
few troughs but many peaks

Relaxation guaranteed
the most I’ll make of this
There’ll be some sounds
and walks with hounds
in five days of pure bliss

Don’t get me wrong, I’m passionate
about the work I do
But everyone
needs time for fun
lacklustre to eschew

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

For the weekend, a sedoka II

Weekend sedoka
And as the paint quickly dries
all can see as it’s hung high
capturing content
as in relaxation here
I breathe deep and simply am

©Jemverse

Picture – ‘Half Moon Bridge’ by Yoshida Toshi (1940)

[Sedoka is a traditional Japanese unrhymed poetic form comprising two three-line ‘katauta’ with a syllabic sequencing of 5/7/7, 5/7/7. A katauta is an unrhymed three-line poem with a syllabic sequence of 5/7/7].

For the weekend, a sedoka I

Weekend sedoka
Six lines to paint a picture
with bold stroke and bright colour
capturing content
as with privilege I come
and with gusto seize the day

©Jemverse

Picture – ‘Half Moon Bridge’ by Yoshida Toshi (1940)

[Sedoka is a traditional Japanese unrhymed poetic form comprising two three-line ‘katauta’ with a syllabic sequencing of 5/7/7, 5/7/7. A katauta is an unrhymed three-line poem with a syllabic sequence of 5/7/7].

Holiday V

First day of a week off work
and it’s a welcome thing
as I’m in need of a long rest
a chance to breathe and sing

Put my feet up for a while
with lie-ins every morning
Rising when more sensible
and not when day is dawning

The choice to do just as I like
freedom in the making
for a few days at the very least
in this week that I am taking

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Respite

A few days of respite
every so often
for a recharge is all that I need
And fresh from the resting
I’m ready to go
revitalised and up to speed

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Life

I love what I do
don’t get me wrong
I’m in quite a lovely position
As forty years done
with the grief and the fun
I enjoy in this time of transition

I put in the hours
use my mind to the full
enthusiastically driven
For the passion is there
as all are aware
from the help that I’ve often given

But I still need a rest
and when weekends arrive
they are welcome with arms open wide
Two days that are mine
to relax and unwind
whether out and about or inside

So I’m happy with life
quite content with my lot
six decades have seen to all that
And with balance in place
with work/life at pace
I know I can keep it intact

©Jemverse

 

Tri-Tanka IV (Lancing Beach)

Once again relaxed
Lancing Beach does that for me
Every single time
The sound of the moving sea
The sight of the ocean waves
And I’m in my element

Completely relaxed
Listening to the ocean
I sit here for hours
Reading for a little while
Writing for a while longer
Here outside Hut 101

Relaxation here
This is my perfect haven
Little home from home
Where I can quite simply be
Where I can quite simply feel
The simplicity of life

©Jemverse

Photo – Lancing Beach, West Sussex, looking East – Jempics

A tanka is a 31 syllable 5 line Japanese poem with a syllabic sequence of 5-7-5-7-7