A kindness

It's not being selfish as sometimes you need
a kindness extended to self
a pampering here
for a top up of cheer
all to keep you in perfect health

And it's not just your body but your mind of course too
that needs looking after each day
mental health care
to keep you aware
and help you along on your way

So a day given over to yourself is well spent
for a kindness once in a while
to bring peace of mind
and help you unwind
all topped up with a good healthy smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Aspiration

Accused of recalcitrance
well maybe that's true
when it comes to the verse that I write
For I see little merit
so will always give credit
to a smile and bring it to the light

For that is my virtue
my license to use
no matter how I might feel
As a bright word to me
is one needed to be
if by it something there needs to heal

So this is the stance
this poet adopts
and has and will to the end
as it's easy to smile
every once in a while
The sentiment here will transcend

And that as an epitaph
is one to aspire
as to reach it and thought of as so
is all I could ask
so I'm up for the task
and will daily give it a go

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The forbidden word

Yes I know it’s a word

which for me’s rarely hidden

yet as I use it so much

my wife has forbidden

But I really can’t help it

so here as a poet

I’ll resist but I’m tempted

so much, don’t you know it!

…

For example today

on my bench for a while

I sat in the sunshine

which brought on a smile

and there in an instant

is the ‘S’ word again

brought in to rhyme

in this little refrain

…

And though it’s so short

just five letters long

it conveys so much

so its usage is strong

The emotion it carries

is second to none

so here for a poet

what’s done is done

…

So I’m sorry my dear

but try hard as a I might

the use of a smile is

my poet’s birthright

and as what I do

in the words from my pen

is regale the nice things

that I see now and then…

…

…I’m afraid that its use

is inevitable here

as it always describes

the joy and the cheer

that every so often

every once in a while

captures the happiness

born of a smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Baking

Thought I’d do some baking
not baked in quite a while
as after all a fresh new loaf
is bound to bring a smile
So I found all the ingredients
and kneaded it and proved
then floured it and dusted
with the washing-up removed
Then with half an hour’s baking
a new loaf proudly stood
bringing with it satisfaction
and the smile I knew it would

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

With all that you read here

It didn’t trouble Wordsworth
or Longfellow or Dahl
as I’m sure when they were writing
you would never hear a snarl

So I won’t let it trouble me
for there is much in life
to write some joyful lines about
avoiding all the strife

So here to make that very point
though I’ll need to be quite snappy
are several lines to bring a smile
and leave you feeling happy

For that will be my motto
as we enter twenty-one
to by my poet’s gift ensure
each day I bring some fun

And yes I know that out there is
a lot to bring a tear
so you’ll find only those of joy
with all that you read here

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics (Stationary brings me joy – particularly new books to write my daily poems in. These three are from Venice in Italy)

Winter sun

The sun made an appearance
not seen it in a while
so its warmth upon my shoulder
brought again to me a smile
Polite again as always
it asked my where it should
and my reply as ever was
that anywhere was good

So nice to see its yellow rays
and sunbeam glow right there
nothing I can think of with
that joy to here compare
So I really hope it stays a while
to keep me company
as in these iron-cold winter months
it’s really what I need

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Positivity

Thinking positivity
something bright for smile
especially as now it seems
it’s lockdown for a while

We need a little brightness
something cheerful each day
to lighten mood and strengthen
if just in a small way

So here’s a little uplifter
in verse as is my gift
which I hope will do just that
for you and bring a lift

It isn’t much but anything
is better here than naught
and this seemed just the thing to do
for you here as I ought

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Things to do on hot days II

Sitting in the garden
in my favourite chair
in my favourite shirt from Greece
watching wildlife there
Little birds a flutter
tasting birdseed by my side
and other times a squirrel
have here I’ve often spied

For this is quiet, a haven
here of solitude and peace
unspoilt by nose of traffic
not often here at least
So as long as I keep still
and just watch a little while
I’m sure to be rewarded
with a visit for a smile

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

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]

Lighty-up-Llama

Last year I got a llama
for my birthday just for fun
it lights up of an evening
powered daily by the sun
And then glows different colours
as the evening takes a hold
from red to green to purple
and blue to yellow gold
At the bottom of our garden
it makes for cheery sight
as along with many others
it glows throughout the night

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics