I once had a sixpence
that was shiny and new
and was full of the joy
of the good it would do
But its devaluation
over time was intense
as now it is worth
just over two pence
Back then it could get me
a brand new toy car
or a big bag of sweets
from my favourite jar
But now there is nothing
that alone it can buy
An indictment to life
so sad I could cry
But putting time to one side
for the moment at least
there is plenty besides
on which we can feast
For that memory brings back
a smile for the years
Days of innocence shared
with laughter and tears
And though the sixpence
won’t purchase anything now
It’s intrinsic value
is greater somehow
For its memory holds treasure
making me a rich man
in more ways than money
ever did or still can
The concrete sheep have reindeer ears
in Shoreham where they’ve been for years
There are shiny bikes out in the street
and dogs in jackets looking sweet
The paper mountains ripped and torn
revealed their gifts on Christmas morn
And smiles on faces match the glee
that comes with this festivity
This is a lovely time of year
One for sharing with good cheer
And as it’s Christmas here’s to you
I hope yours is simply lovely too
I’d turn back time
(If only I could)
For I’ve a bag full of conkers
which I found in the wood
Recalling the days
of muddied scuffed knees
Long days in the sunshine
and the climbing of trees
‘Borrowing’ a skewer
from the kitchen drawer
when stringed conkers in pocket
was what life was for
We threw sticks to the branches
to see what would fall
and the thrill of the find
was just part of it all
The ‘fallers’ were rare
but we searched just the same
Always out in the woods
when the autumn time came
But that art has been lost
for today on the ground
There were hundreds of conkers
just lying around
And the only boy there
was the one in my mind
As it re-lived the days
that time tries to find
I-phones replace conkers
Imagination consumed
And simple pleasures like this
could well now be doomed
Yet all is not lost
For the conkers remain
for collecting by me
every year just the same
As now they are used
to keep spiders away
And as happy reminders
of a halcyon day
Kept a secret, it was mine
I looked at it from time to time
I put it in a special box
with hinge and lid but no firm locks
But it was hidden well from view
and rarely seen by just a few
But as time passed more secrets came
some by pictures, some by name
And my special box with secrets there
became something to show and share
Its purpose changed, the secrets stayed
But opened now and oft displayed
Its memories to have and hold
now bring a smile as we grow old
Every single one a treasure
Beyond a value or a measure
Something special bringing cheers
A captured glimpse of passing years
This written in ‘Trinet Poem’ form – three verses of 7 lines, centred and with a repeated sequence of 2, 2, 6, 6, 2, 2, 2. Together they form the shape of three crosses.
...all about me and my life in words. I write most days, carrying an ideas book around in which I capture a word snapshot of life around me. So there's a lot here about Sussex and the sea and anything else I see that inspires.
The pictures are mine too. Some taken to match a poem; some poems written to match a pic; others chosen because they work well with words written.
Jemverse is life in words. Hope you enjoy the reading as much as I enjoy the writing...