Sweet is the calm.uk

Decided to try some free-verse after hearing and reading about Pep Guardiola’s statement reference Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments (February 2026) about the UK being “colonised by immigrants”. Pep talks about what influence we didn’t have on how and when we were born, the colour of our skin, our religion, the problems within countries to make people want to leave their home land for a better life elsewhere. He goes on to say that If we embrace other cultures we will have a better society and that people should respect each other, love each other and work with each other for a better future.

We are all one someone once said,

We breathe the same air,

Red as we bleed,

With different languages,

So to speak,

Listen intently to our needs,

And our children……please!

Laughter and sadness to share,

Love and hatred in our soul,

What do we need for a normal life,

Shelter, warmth, food and love,

Is it too much to ask,

To live in peace with one another,

Not to fight or kill,

Respect our place upon this earth,

And our beliefs,

With wounded hearts and tears…..cry!

We have enough on our plate,

Our crosses to endure,

Carry our troubles hoping to share,

Physical and mental torture,

Touch of the human bond not to refuse,

The humanity that carries us on…..forward!

Protect our planet for all to have,

Not to go back but advance,

And then when our distance is done,

Be happy with the path we have trod,

Not disappointed with lost opportunities,

Or long tiresome words to confuse,

Slow is the life if you want it to be,

With no first prize in the race for the grave,

And when we do get there,

Hopefully after a long time…..rest!

James Findon © 2026. 

We are being battered by storms this winter, not uncommon but can be quite terrifying if you live near the coast and the damage experienced recently to the shoreline defences and properties facing the sea due to storms “Chandra” and “Ingrid”. The village of Torcross and the Slapton line being an example which has seen its fair share of coastal erosion over the past years. Also inland we face the problems with flooding especially if you live close to the many rivers we have in this country. So with these events in mind I have put pen to paper.

The waters spiritual cleansing,

For the cycle of each tear,

Of convective process rising,

With storms producing fear,

Covers the level of the plains,

For the low-pressure assault,

And named with a personality,

Flooding in as a result,

For this force of nature we receive,

We are drawn to this awesome sight,

Turns the sky to black from blue,

Witness of earth’s natural might,

Dreams to be taken away,

The storm surge now to rise,

Coastal erosion into the sea,

Bricks and mortar it will prise,

This atmospheric condition,

Precipitation vast,

A south westerly depression,

Of the weather fore-cast,

With the wind rising,

A decrease in pressure,

The barometer falls,

Millibars to measure,

Onward to the ocean,

The deluge drains away,

Swollen then meandering,

Pouring into the bay,

Protect from the flood,

Defence of the homeland,

Storm water to breach,

Barriers built of sand,

Storms come on again,

Giving life to the Hydro rise,

Of the tragedy occurring,

Creating havoc before our eyes,

Harvest this water and the wind,

Provide energy for all,

But at what cost do we yield,

For Global Warming to call.

James Findon © January 2026.

I always enjoy watching TV programmes on fishing and we have one as such in the UK called “Mortimer & Whitehouse, Gone fishing”. Paul Whitehouse (Fast show, Harry Enfield and Friends) and Bob Mortimer (Comedian, Author and TV show host) present a show that discusses the merits of fishing but also reflects on their mortality following health scares they’ve both endured during the recent past. When they catch they always return the fish to the water with “And Away”. This poem is based on a recent episode about the Perch and whilst sat watching I had a pen and paper to hand.

Very obliging,

Wait for the tip to bend,

In the fast-flowing water,

Bang on trend,

Beautiful blood red fins,

Predator and prey,

A heron glides across the water,

Release and away,

Since prehistoric times,

Visually striking tiger stripes,

Rough scales and sharp gills,

Eyes forward social types, 

Kingfisher’s, Eagles and the Osprey,

In ponds, lakes and low-lying brooks,

Perch is on the menu,

For those with talons and hooks.

With acknowledgement to “Mortimer & Whitehouse, Gone fishing”.

James Findon © January 2026.  

Well someone has to keep the faith and as a younger man I embraced religion…. but when my circumstances changed went away from the all-consuming church. In later life looking for answers went back to kneel before the alter and take communion but then covid struck and put an end to that. While recovering I went out walking to the village of Barcheston and noticed some people leaving the Church. I enquired if the church was now open following covid restrictions. It was but only for morning prayer on the first Sunday of each month. “You are welcome to come and join us” and I’ve been going ever since.

In the south of Shakespeare’s county, 

lies a church near the river stour, 

with a past medieval, 

and a Pisa like tower.

A nearby manor house,

Therein a tapestry enterprise,

Now of national importance,

The weave hid from our eyes,

Then a south aisle added,

To host the Willington tomb,

For William and Ann,

Of a depopulation boom,

After the Victorian restoration,

The music we’ve embraced,

For the recitals here playing,

on the organ now replaced,

Between Holroyde’s donation,

Saint Martin in stained glass stands,

In the Wigington memorial,

Cloak divided for a beggar’s hands

A lot of people now attending,

The monthly Sunday mass,

A feeling of Christian community,

The collection plate to pass,

Sat or kneeling in the pews,

As we pray to heaven,

We give thanks to God,

For the South Warwickshire Seven,

Of the work within our church,

And the villages all around,

Praising God for our ministry team,

Who serve this sacred ground,

Outside in the churchyard,

The weather with it brings,

Wind, sunshine, snow and rain,

Yet a congregation sings,

Hymns for the people,

Evensong in full flow,

With those that worshipped here,

At rest in peace below,

To the future of this church,

And the people who attend,

Long may it continue, the grace of our lord to send.      

 James Findon © 2025.

The South Warwickshire Seven is a group of Seven churches within the Diocese of Coventry and comprises the following churches: St Martins, Barcheston. St Lawrence, Barton on the Heath. St Barnabas & St Nicholas Burmington, St John the Baptist, Cherington, St Michael & All Angels, Great Wolford, St Peter & St Paul, Long Compton, and St Michael, Whichford.

“The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!”

(William Walsham How 1864)

Hi I’m James Findon and welcome to my poetry blog. I want to share with you the joy of poetry and maybe inspire you to write as well. It all started with a book I read about a guy named Edward Thomas who was a literary critic who then went on to write poetry. Tragically he was killed in World War 1 and his biography by the author Matthew Hollis is quite moving and somewhere within the grey matter decided I would like to write poetry myself. And the title for my blog was divine inspiration from a hymn “For all the saints” verse 9 ,“Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed” written by William Walsham How in 1864. I write poetry about all different types of subjects some of which are personal some not. I also review some poetry and biography’s and have a good spread of poetry books with a lot of reading and writing to do. Poets that have inspired me recently, apart from Edward Thomas, are Wilfred Owen, Rupert Brooke and Seigfried Sassoon. All war poets from WW1. Other poets would include Sir John Betjeman, A E Housman, W B Yeats and from more recent times Pam Ayres, who I had the pleasure of seeing on stage at Shrewsbury recently on her “Doggedly Onward” tour of which my wife has bought me a signed copy of her book. Bonus!

Disclaimer: Please note that all poetical works on this site are copyright of the author (James Findon) as well as any pictures, illustrations etc. unless otherwise stated and any copy/reprinting must have the approval of the author beforehand. My poetry is written as a way of telling historical facts, observations and personal experiences and are in no way intended to be politically incorrect, racially motivated or offensive to any of my readers. Please feel free to contact me if you have any comment or feedback on my work.

“I might be strange and like a joke, but there’s nowt so queer as normal folk”. James Findon © 2025.

Please check out my other poems and articles. These can be found on the blog pages:

• The poppies hung upon the tree.
• The bonfires of deliverance.
• Book review’s.
• My Fab Four (a poet’s lament).
• Who can be against us.
• Under the Gazebo (a temporary situation).
• Upon God’s earth (a shadow cast).
• The beauty that lies under.
• A different kind of tiger (for the Slapton dead)
• Morning General.
• The light that enters our World.

“The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!”

(William Walsham How 1864)