First XI

11 of 12 in the Jemverse ’12 months III’ series

We’re half way through the summer
but I hope it won’t go soon
as now it is first of July
and fades the month of June
The sun at least has been a friend
for weeks now it appears
helping to dispel the dread
that grows from Covid’s fears

So I really hope the summer
stays with us for a good while
as it warms the cockles of our hearts
and certainly brings a smile
And yes the social distancing
on the beaches is a thing
but who can really blame them
when the sunshine has a fling

It seems as though the summer
is being good on purpose here
keeping up our spirits
now we’re at this time of year
So as July kicks off today
I hope the sunshine stays
keeping up appearances
to brighen up our days

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Born to the sun IV

Past sixty-one summers
I was born to the sun
a new Thursday’s child
to the world then had come
At the end of the fifties
the Rock n Roll years
a little boy blue
as the sixties they neared

And appropriate now
as that decade I see
this child of the summer
his spirit still free
So here on the day
I was born to this earth
this Thursday’s child
knows the sun for its worth

©Jemverse

Picture – ‘Sunshine splash #1’ by the author

First X

10 of 12 in the Jemverse ’12 months III’ series

The sixth month of the year arrives
here with the first of June
Summer smiles a welcome
singing here a happy tune
Sun shines down from clear blue skies
a little dance seems right
expression of the sentiment
we have with this in sight

Nature’s green abundant growth
with colour in between
as flowers open wide their bloom
to be the best they’ve been
June we always welcome you
the summer in our heart
marked upon your first day here
to herald in the start

©Jemverse

Photo Jempics

An ode to Summer

3 of 4

Momentum carries me forward
into the heat of the day
for a warmth that summer belongs to
with feeling mere words cannot say
It’s the season I always long for
Its comfort a tangible thing
Its presence to hold and cling onto
for a smile and a reason to sing

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Dichotomy

Yes, there’s beauty in winter
I’ll give you that
But, no brainer given the choice
As between both of these
Quite opposed to the freeze
it’s the summer in which I rejoice

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Finding summer

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

We’re off to find the summer
for a little while at least
and from now til mid-November
all working has now ceased

Yet we shiver in our shirtsleeves
beneath cold English skies
before towards the summer
our big jet plane it flies

Dubrovnik in Croatia
awaits us basking in the sun
beginning here our autumn break
with eight more days to come

©Jemverse

Photo – Dubrovnik, Croatia – Jempics

[‘Finding summer’ is the first 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]

Two Days

Two days to go
until summer returns
for eight days for Sally and I
As packing our bags
to Dubrovnik we’re bound
on Thursday morning to fly

And it will be good
at least for a week
to feel warmth from the sunshine once more
Relaxation sublime
with weather so fine
and one or treats I am sure

©Jemverse

Photo – dawn over Dubrovnik, Croatia – Jempics

Sussex Prairies

Sussex Prairies was a find
up near Henfield way
A lovely sculpture garden
on a lovely summer’s day
Yellow flowers in abundance
enjoyed by everyone
exemplified the sculpture
in the glorious August sun
And after cake and cups of tea
we took a new route home
Pleased this place discovered
Somewhere else to us now known

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Ditchling Beacon

Ditching Beacon in late summer
with views of Sussex Weald
walking slowly in the heat
cast by the sun’s strong yield

Wolfgang’s with us trotting slow
sniffing here and there
Inquisitive, excited
the moment here to share

By and by we’ll head on home
but an ice-cream first I think
Eating quickly, lest they melt
whilst Wolfgang has a drink

©Jemverse

Photo – from the the top of Ditchling Beacon, West Sussex – Jempics

[Wolfgang is our daughter’s 10-month old Patterdale Terrier]

Lavender bagging

Bagged up all my lavender
in bunches hung above me
drying out and making
all around me smell quite lovely
A bumper crop this year
has meant a lot more bags to do
which later on as little gifts
may find their way to you

It’s really a cathartic way
to spend a summer day
bagging up the lavender
I’ve grown along the way
A day I spend least once a year
each harvest to remember
Sometimes in late August
Sometimes in September

©Jemverse

Photo – this year’s lavender crop, bagged up and ready to go – Jempics