21 Jan 2024 4 Comments
in cancer, journey, Life, painting with words, poem, Poet, Poetry, wordsmith Tags: cancer, diagnosis, Jemverse, life, painting with words, poem, poet, Poetry, poetry blog, rhyme, verse, wordsmithing, writing poetry
I am clearly not my diagnosis
Ginger Wildheart's song once said
for if I'd listened to my doctors
at this time I would be dead
'Cos that's the time they gave me
back when the news first broke
Although with chemotherapy
a longer time was spoke
So that's what I am going for
longevity into years
this cancer will not beat me
and will not result in fear
I am not my diagnosis
I will not succumb to this
but will stand up to this cancer
and live long to see the bliss
©Jemverse
23 Oct 2023 1 Comment
in Boat, journey, painting with words, photo, poem, Poet, Poetry, Sea, Smile, Travel, wordsmith Tags: cruise, holiday, Jemverse, painting with words, poem, poet, Poetry, poetry blog, rhyme, ship, wordsmithing, writing poetry
We've booked another cruise it has been quite a time since we have been on holiday so here that feeling's fine Before pandemic was the last time that we left this shore but that's now set to change again in twenty twenty-four Canary Islands wait us there twelve weeks or so away so soon the days we'll start to count down to the sailing day
©Jemverse
Photo – Jempics
17 Sep 2023 Leave a comment
in Creative Writing, journey, Life, painting with words, photo, poem, Poet, Poetry, poetry blog, series, wordsmith Tags: Jemverse, life, painting with words, poem, poet, Poetry, poetry blog, rhyme, verse, wordsmithing, writing poetry
You can still see the crack in Tate’s turbine hall Looking down from above with no fear of a fall But as a member and patron back in twenty-o-eight I marvelled then at the beauty which others berate It’s long filled in now But you can still trace the line as it blends in with the people passing by all the time But most now are oblivious never once glancing down to wonder or puzzle perhaps with a frown What all that was about? What on earth did it mean? What was it’s purpose? What from it can we glean? A testament then to an immigrant’s plight ‘Shibboleth’ said it all with uncanny insight The crack representing the negative space that exists between humans who fight over race The ‘crack’ may be covered But the wound is still there An analogous reminder of a world without care ©Jemverse ‘Shibboleth’ was the 8th commission for London’s Tate Modern turbine hall as a part of the ‘Unilever Series’. Open between October 2007 and April 2008, the 548 foot long crack by Doris Salcedo meandered across the entire length of the turbine hall. You can still trace its filled in length today.
‘A crack in humanity‘ was originally posted in March 2016.
Photo – Jempics
16 Sep 2023 Leave a comment
in journey, Life, painting with words, poem, Poet, Poetry, wordsmith Tags: Jemverse, life, painting with words, poem, poet, Poetry, poetry blog, rhyme, verse, wordsmithing, writing poetry
In the razor sharp clarity of a crisp autumn morn An erudite moment of instinct was born A momentary feeling captured and held Crystallised into form to fashion and meld In these days of uncertainty moments like these Akin to the feeling of a warm summer breeze Are the ones that will shape and strengthen the mind Providing foundation with purpose to find Life’s a rollercoaster ride with its up and its downs But when the scary bit’s over Our laughs replace frowns So when clarity comes and the purpose is clear The ride’s there to enjoy With nothing to fear.
©Jemverse
[‘The rollercoaster ride‘ was first posted in October 2015, revisited in October 2022 and again today]
Photo – Google images
15 Jun 2023 Leave a comment
in Creative Writing, journey, painting with words, poem, Poet, Poetry, poetry blog, train, Travel, wordsmith Tags: home, Jemverse, journey, painting with words, poem, poet, Poetry, poetry blog, rhyme, train, travel, verse, wordsmithing, writing poetry
It dawned on me this morning that the train trip later on will be the last time ever I'll do that and sing this song The last time I'll return back home from a business trip away not something I will miss that much I can quite safely say Yes, I have made the most of them and the cities I have seen have been most edifying of the places I have been But the trips home when work is done of which this is the last have always been the best, and now are firmly in the past
©Jemverse
Photo – Jempics
04 Mar 2023 Leave a comment
in journey, Life, painting with words, Peace, photo, poem, Poet, Poetry, wordsmith, Work Tags: evening, Jemverse, metaphor, painting with words, poem, poet, Poetry, poetry blog, retirement, rhyme, sunset, verse, wordsmith, writing poetry
There's a sunset coming though a ways off yet I can see the glow to the West as the evening time approaches now a bid at my behest It's yellow, pink and pastel and full of warming glow foretelling of a different time that all too soon I'll know It's a sunset of the summer one of a perfect day and though it's lasted many years I'm ready now I'd say So here I breathe and deeply satisfaction is replete as the sunset coming gathers pace and sees this time complete
©Jemverse
Photo – Jempics
[And yes…there’s a metaphor here. Third line of verse three gives a clue to what it portends. But I suspect there will be several more over the next few months to give the game away]
27 Feb 2023 Leave a comment
in journey, Life, painting with words, poem, Poet, Poetry, wordsmith, Work Tags: Civil Service, Jemverse, painting with words, poem, poet, Poetry, poetry blog, verse, wordsmith, work, writing poetry
In days of heady youth, future just a dream the wisdom of a caring mother prompted application to an embryonic beginning Forecasting fortitude to longevity never seen decades passed to forty years and as youth acquiesced to age, retirement loomed Now wisdom of age to fruition seen, the curtain call beckons to a new beginning at this evening sunset of a twilight year
©Jemverse
Photo – Jempics; the Jemdrift driftwood sculpture ‘Time’ (2001)
[Tomorrow – 28 February 2023, I’ll have been part of the UK’s Civil Service for 40 years]
31 Jan 2022 2 Comments
in journey, Life, painting with words, poem, Poet, Poetry, train, wordsmith Tags: commuting, Jemverse, life, London, painting with words, poem, poet, Poetry, poetry blog, rhyme, travel, verse, wordsmith, writing poetry
Tomorrow I'm back in London again commuting up there on the train leaving at dawn when no-one's about travelling daily again There's a bit of excitement but also a doubt as Covid has not left us yet but I'm boostered and jabbed and protecting myself so I've really no reason to fret It's back to Westminster so a walk through the park daily is what I will do for unless it is raining and blowing a gale I'm avoiding the risk of the tube I've a good book and music and a game on my Switch so I will make the most of this time and I'm sure the long hours will pass in a flash and the journey and days will be fine
©Jemverse
Photo – Jempics
10 Dec 2021 3 Comments
in home, journey, painting with words, photo, poem, Poet, Poetry, Sussex, train, Travel, wordsmith Tags: home, Jemverse, journey, painting with words, poem, poet, Poetry, poetry blog, rhyme, Shoreham, Sussex, travel, wordsmith, writing poetry
With its long reach this station clad with many journeys I have had Over the years to different places some with airs and some with graces Quiet, it exudes a charm which here has never done me harm A comfort even home from home from all the stations I have known For this is Shoreham part of me in this town beside the sea
©Jemverse
Photo – Jempics
29 Sep 2021 2 Comments
in journey, Life, painting with words, poem, Poet, Poetry, Sussex, train, Travel, wordsmith, Work Tags: change, Jemverse, journey, life, normality, painting with words, poem, poet, Poetry, poetry blog, rhyme, train, travel, verse, wordsmith, work, writing poetry
It's a first for me today no trains for quite time not since the first lockdown have I braved the ridden line And yet today to Worthing I must venture yet again for my first day in an office and a journey on a train So I'm taking all precaution best foot forward and the rest to make the day enjoyable my safety to invest And I know that it will all be fine despite the butterflies that I've now got in my tummy which I guess is no surprise So Shoreham station here I come to travel on a train and take another step to bring normality again
©Jemverse
Photo – Jempics
Jemverse 