Winter greyness seldom sun
Brittle chill for everyone
Daylight precious shorter now
Nighttime lingers on somehow
Yet still to find and bring some cheer
Despite the chill a beauty here
As winter hides but brings to fore
a treasure kept for us in store
There in the silence a single leaf fell
slowly down to the ground
from the tree it had lived on throughout the year
with the slightest whisper of sound
Yet no sadness here, no falling from grace
but exuberant moment of glee
as a new golden treasure shone bright at its best
at the end of its life radiantly
Through a gap in the bushes
I spied Shoreham town
nestled there under the Downs
twixt me and the sea
safe there in the lea
the bearer of treasure and crowns
And I smiled in the knowledge
that this was my home
the place I am so pleased to live
for it has everything
to make my heart sing
with the riches it serves there to give
Enriched I am carried
as if on a cloud
to this place of fulfilment
my head duly bowed
For it is with all honour
and privilege here
that I share in this glory
at this time of year
So in luxury carried
to this opulent place
I am full of awe
at receipt of this grace
For it is quite purely
at nature's behest
that I am invited
as a valued guest
And so into the woodland trail
for an exuberance of gold
this treasure of abundance
now the year is getting old
For times like these I live and breathe
and even though it's chill
my winter coat and long johns
will ensure I catch no ill
Fare more beside this treasure trail
quite free there to partake
is something quite essential
at this time of year to make
On the table outside
are memories we treasure
rocks and pebbles from Dorset
hold joy beyond measure
Some fossils, all lovely
some plain and some not
we love every one
and are pleased with the lot
And they're out there for purpose
to get wet in the rain
for then we can see them
as we found them again
Fresh, wet from the sea
with their lines and their form
which fascinated us then
and now our table adorn
Our treasures from Dorset
for us always to hold
displayed in our garden
and as precious as gold
The second of four and the rain
a threat yesterday has arrived
Yet here on the set of November cast
the sun's in my heart and I thrive
For it really is all about seizing the day
and the treasure trove waiting a find
So seldom the time to fret about things
which are mostly figments in mind
Well, although the sun was shining
and some warmth was evident
it wasn't packing substance
to support a whole day spent
sitting by a beach hut
just looking at the sea
So I decided not to do that
quite unreservedly
Having said that, a no brainer
not to waste and not to squander
so as soon as I had breakfasted
I went out for a wander
Down through the streets of Shoreham
on the bright side of the street
to take in this lovely weather
and the glory of it greet
For days like this are precious
like a treasure in my hand
so every one I value
when they fall upon this land
I will lift my head up skyward
and as my eyes squint in the haze
I'll repeat again the thank you
for the pleasure of these days
I didn't plant this lavender
that's growing by the wall
in fact I'm really quite surprised
that it is growing here at all
It must have grown from seed of course
from the crop I grow each year
and a stray stem I must have missed
though I'm careful, let's be clear
To harvest every one of those
as precious they all are
so I'm careful not to miss a one
I'm most particular
And yet the evidence is here
growing on its own
a lavender to cultivate
from a small seed not sown
But I will treasure it the same
as all the others here
for another crop of loveliness
I get from year to year
This time last year
the weather was mellow
and in spite of restrictions
a fortunate fellow
was able to cycle
out on the trail
as sunsets of gold
were made to regale
And in light quickly fading
a poem was written
to capture the moment
with which he was smitten
Words duly published
on Jemverse that year
which now I can read
to rekindle that cheer
But don't get me wrong
no lacklustre faced
optimistic as always
that time is released
by new wonders daily
for joy and for pleasure
which with recollection
I have for treasure
...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...