Dear readers and followers, I’m in a conundrum. Below are five of my poems that I’ve choosen to submit for pubilication, in the 2019 Geelong Writers Annual Anthology. The problem for me, is that I’m only allowed, to submit TWO !!! Please help… if you wish to, chose “2” and mention them in your comment on this article…. I would gratefully accept any feedback… Thank you…. And Of course I have to do my submission before I leave for New York, on Wednesday 24th April.
*1Β Β I Dream On Snippets
Iβm living on snippets
A snip here, a piece there
I donβt watch TV news nor read newspapers
Thereβs no need to see more
False dreams donβt swim in my sea
And realities fill my soul with broken keys
I donβt watch many movies
I know their spiritβs are within me
And their ghosts live beyond what I see
Β
Iβm sipping on the holy grail
A thimble of wine
To a chaliceΒ of water
Thereβs no need to drink more
Rivers of tears have already flooded my heart
And clouds fill my soul with yesterdays rain
Β
Iβm eating snippets
A morsel here, a crumb from there
I donβt hunt for my groceries
Thereβs no need to eat more
Food magically lands on my plate
Delivered by angels who look after me
Β
Iβm breathing wisps of air
Gasping for my invisible share
Enough to activate my inner being
Thereβs no need to inhale more
The sky is infinite and free
And the trees air fills my lungs, regenerating me
Β
*2Β Leafless Branches
Thereβs a warning sign swirling in my yard
Words are being splattered on my fence
Blown in by todayβs gale
Leafless branches are flying around
Natureβs own, final count down
Suddenly, on the horizon, thereβs a red-brown cloud
Rolling in, over the barren hills
And a dust-storm quickly engulfs the air
Β
Racing silver clouds and blue sky
Invisible through the thick red haze
Dry topsoil from the western plains
Aerially transported by the windβs angry throat
And thereβs no calming the dusty tempest
Until mother nature has had her way
I stand here, leaning against her force
Feeling her violence, pitch dirt in my face
Β
*3Β Β My Rainbow
Over mountains, into a distant sky
Blazing hues of African butterflies
Sparkling reflections of our last goodbyes
Β
Did you see my yesterday rainbow
Sheβs ruby red, yellow and blue
The heavenly ring, in everyoneβs view
Β
Above you, a perfect archway
Behind you, a forever shining sun-ray
Around you, a golden halo everyday
*4Β Β Donβt Ask MeΒ Why
Unknowingly, I often dream of her serene ashen face
Years ago, I gently held her frailty in my tired arms
Softly whispering to her, last words of love and grace
Donβt ask me why, I count the days, since Iβve missed her charms
I cannot give you a sensible nor plausible answer
Donβt ask my why, I count the weeks, since I lost my way
Iβm unable to fathom the depths of my inner cancer
Donβt ask me why, I count the months, since she died that day
Because Iβm still gradually recovering
Remembering sheβll never ever go away
And somehow, Iβm steadily rediscovering
Knowing someday, Iβll be allowed to stay
*5Β Β Beyond The BrickΒ Wall
My timeβs feeling lost and unrequired
Yesterday, I was worn and tired
Today, I did reach for the sky
Tomorrow, Iβll give life another try
Yesterday, I hit the brick wall
Today, I jumped every puddle
Tomorrow, hurdles will be castles in the sand
Everyday, my unknown future lays in my hands
Every-week, my dream looks like potterβs clay
Today, I uncovered tomorrow is the next day
Tomorrow, is not my vision of times to come
Tomorrow, is the beginning of my shining sun
Ivor Steven (c)Β 2019

My Rainbow and Don’t ask me why. π
Congratulations Ivor. Love and hugs.
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Kisses dear Nandita, thank you very much
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You’re welcome, my dear. You look good. Stay well. π€
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#2 and # 3
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Thank you Dear Colleen xx
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You’re very welcome Ivor π
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I’m no help as I like all of them! β€
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Haha, ok I’ll send them two poems ππππ
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ππ€
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I’m dream on snipets and Rainbow (Rainbow, my favorite). β€
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Thank you Paulette π€π€ππ
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All of them! But most definitely βLeafless Branches.β
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Thank you Dear Robert,
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I love them all! 1,4&5 stood out to me the most. If I had to pick two, Iβd say βDonβt Ask Me Whyβ and βBeyond the Brick Wallβ. Beautiful work, Ivor.
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Thank you Heather, I truly appreciate your imput ππ€π€
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Anytime, Ivor! I love your work!
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π€π€πππ
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Hmm, tough one. All great, but I would go with #2 & #3.
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Thank you River
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Youβre welcome.
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3 and 4 for me Ivor! If in doubt throw darts at the dart board with your left hand (if right handed!) until you hit 2 choices.
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Haha, sounds like a good idea, thanks Peter.
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lol love them all but 4 and 5 would be my picks … no idea how you’ll do this as we all like different ones … maybe pick numbers from a hat, or roll a dice, good luck!
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Haha.. Thank you Kate, I’m doing it on a vote system…. I’ll let everybody know Sunday or Monday, when I’ll have to do my submission….
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you probably know deep down which ones you prefer Ivor … go with your gut, it never lies!
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My gut is out of whack at the moment, all I’m of thinking of is my holiday, poetry has really dropped off my radar at the moment, but I must do this submission before I go… !!
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then simply add our votes and submit the two highest scores, good you are so excited but take off will come quick enough π
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Haha 5 days… but who’s counting !!!
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lol … maybe you π
Hope the easter bunny leaves you plenty of eggs!
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I love them all but i like more
– My Rainbow and
– Beyond The Brick Wall
KISSES and GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I like the vulnerability implied by the lack of protection in ‘Leafless Branches’ and the reduced grieving process in ‘Don’t ask me why”
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Thank you Derrick for your helpful reply and comments.
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What a difficult decision, Ivor! βMy Rainbowβ & βDonβt Ask Me Whyβ touched me more, but you could go with any combination..what a great position to be in, eh! Well done you! π
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Thank you for your kind comments and your selections, ππ€
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I really liked 3 & 4 an awful lot!! π Good luck with the submission!!
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Thank you for your comment. xx
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You’re most welcome. π
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Twq and Four, maybe. I see #2 is coming in strong.
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Thank you Oneta for reading and your imput xx
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