Autumn Sunshine

Autumn sunshine 

With you

Something special

Something new 

Warmth instead of cold 

Feeling young and not too old 

The touch of gold 

And a sea so blue 

Now I feel 

That longed for peace

No more dead wet leaves 

No more deja vu

Smiling at the people I meet. 

The trash in the lake 

The insults they threw 

Memories fading

Fake friendships too . 

I am here 

What lies between 

Is a promise made

And an ocean of dreams.  

Each day 

I'm with you 

The more real it seems 

And closer to 

touching 

The beauty I've seen. 

Joseph Morriss

4.11.24

September turn

 The dark forests close their ranks.

And the swift river floods its banks,

Swelled by rains 

Which dash down the drains 

Running along the winding lanes. 

Of the mountain pass,  

Mist laden

Wet grass 

Strewn with horse and cattle 

The pattering of rain on leaf 

That signals summers last

As bees forage among flowers,

Gorse and petal .

Sun slants golden

In the quiet evening hours 

And plane trees in the plaza 

Shelter strolling couples 

Amidst fleeting showers.

Whilst waves from the ocean 

Chop into the bay 

And the mountains kneel in awe 

As the sun fades away. 

September is here 

The tide turns again

And I welcome with joy

The face of my friend. 

Joseph Morriss

Playa de la reunión

6th September 2024

 

 

Buried Treasure

Summer fades

Into sweet September

With so many special

Scenes to remember .

Laughter, sun 

And a love so tender.

Enjoying new places 

Having fun together. 

So many moments 

Of warmth and pleasure.

The sum of them 

A glowing ember. 

And when days grow short

With changing weather

Which doesn't sparkle 

With equal measure.

These happy hours 

Like buried treasure,

Will be safely stored 

To shine

Forever. 

Joseph Morriss 

26th August 2024

Colindres

Failures into graces.

 

Thank you for your gentle love, 

Your sweet love.

That shines in darkest places 

The sun you give

Born from above,

To whom people turn their faces 

Thank you for your strong love, 

Your good love. 

That with us 

Changes places 

Who we can always think of

When we have lost the traces. 

So many different tongues 

There are

So many different races 

But only there is one love 

That turns failures into graces. 

Joseph Morriss

Charente ,La France 

15.8.24

For my sweet companion. 

This place

 I talk about this place

Of love , and beauty

And peace.

 

And its true

It does exist.

 

I’ve seen it

Or at least I think I have

And if I haven’t and am only hoping and imagining that I have,

Well then, that’s enough, and

I known one day I will.

 

Because it’s real

Its not just imagination, its belief.

And I believe in him

 

Who created heaven and earth

And who loves me,

Even me

And who loves you too.

JM 23.7.24

Colindres 

A smile is...

 A thin smile, is still a smile...

like a patch of blue in the sky.

But sometimes the rain

comes and you have to let go and cry .

You can walk a mile,

With a bright smile 

And really...

I want to try.

And if a crooked mile 

Makes a crooked smile 

And a broken wing 

Won't fly...

Then two smiles 

Like yours and mine.

Will hold us 

as time goes by.

Joseph Morriss

6th July 2024

Colindres 

When the boat has sailed.

When the boat has sailed

The harbour left empty 

Like the mountains

Veiled,

From the land of plenty

I will then think of you

As the grey mist settles 

Across the fading blue 

And flowers became nettles.

I was close to the sea

When the call came through.

So I know how it feels,

To look into the gloom. 

And there are bells 

That will peal.

And often for whom, 

Those who we love ,

As they leave this life’s room.

But as the mist fills the valley

And clouds cover the moon,

Her heart soars to the mountain,

And away from the tomb. 

For Evelyn 

27th June 2024

 

My Father's Son

When I was still my Father’s son,

I would laugh And run Play in the sun When I was still my Father's son I would do all the things That could be done And it never used to spoil My fun Even if shoelaces Came undone Now I sit And watch them play And remind them all, “Never waste a day’. To laugh and sing, Come what may. That happiness, Truly, Is here to stay. And then I turn From the laughing sun To the the misty sea And the waves that come I softly hear, His comforting words “Away now , leave me” Your life’s begun. And then I know That where I am Although it's far From my native land Is firmly held within my hand And I am still my father’s son. Joseph Morriss Playa de la reunión. Laredo. 23rd June 2024

________________________________

Beside the path

 Here I sit

 In sight of the sea

The mountain at my back.

The rolling swell 

Speaks peace to me 

And I long 

To put down this sack

At times unsure 

Though old , not young 

And aware of what I Iack

But one thing told in my mother tongue

That keeps me on this track 

Is the gentle heart 

That does no wrong 

And his love 

Will not hold back. 

Like summer flowers 

Beside the path 

That smile as we walk along 

We leave behind 

The painful past 

And listen to the song.

Joseph 

15th June 2024

El Camino 

Cantabria 

 

Let it go

 I cant stop the rain from falling 

And you know I cant

hold back the tide

I cant even stop the pain from hurting 

But I will always be here

By your side

You cant stop 

The tears from coming 

Or the always know

How to decide

But Im your friend 

And I’ll tell you something

I know how it felt

When father died.

The man that gave you form and figure

Has run his course,

Now rests in pride.

Time to push out on the river 

And follow

To the ocean wide. 

There is nothing to encounter

In the grave he left behind

Let it go 

Be a giver 

Live your life 

In the world outside. 

Joseph Morriss

May 12th 2024

Colindres harbour. 

 

Clear Waters

The tiny Wagtail,

Picks her way carefully among the rocks.

Keeping scutcheon clean and white,

And after a cold and hungry night. 

searches out sweet treats for her flock. 

The common ducks wash and preen,

Unabashed at being seen 

Bathing publicly 

In their morning routine. 

And the cheerful whistled tune of a local song, 

Is caught up by the swifts 

As pair by pair, 

they flit along,

In the soft grey green river mists

Villagers fetching morning bread,

Hail as they pass

The chattering stones on the river bed 

Spin lace through rippled glass.  

And couples murmur quietly their daily “Quehaceres” 

In a lilting gentle baritone dispelling all their cares.  

And blending with their Cántabro 

With a tone so  

Constant, clear 

The river runs through Limpias. 

And I find myself, just here:

Beneath the olive-brown shoulder of the hill, 

its yellow, flowered banks reflected in bright hue.

From fresh mountain rill,

To the valley  

And then on through,

The clouds lift their rainy  mantle giving way to the warming blue. 

Beside the still and peaceful Áson,

I give my thanks to you. 

For Dad

26th April 2024

Joseph 

Morriss

 

  

Love finds a way

A bubble on the stream

Or floating in the air 

A memory reminding us

Of what was once there.

These things have no substance 

And we may not be aware

But they are noticed 

In a moment 

By eyes that are full of care. 

They speak without words

With a truth that goes through 

Every layer of hurt 

They speak straight to you.

Like a cross in a stone 

Which if carelessly thrown

May never be found 

By friend or by foe.

Bright pebble in the sand 

Laying just out of reach

Goes dull in the hand 

That took it from the beach. 

Maybe no one will stand 

And know what to teach

When the mighty are fallen 

And the walls are all breached. 

But love grows in the cracks.

And it WILL find a way 

I pray that you too,

Will see it one day. 

Joseph Morriss

1st April 2024

Mulbarton

Norfolk

Joseph Morriss 1st April 2024 Mulbarton Norfolk

1st April 2024

Mulbarton 

Norfolk