Author: ivor20

G'day, and welcome to my blog site. My name is Ivor Steven, I live in Geelong, Australia. I'm an ex-industrial chemist, and a retired plumber, and a former Carer of my wife(Carole), for 30 years, who suffered from severe MS. I Write poetry about those personal thoughts, throughout and beyond my life as a Carer. I've been blogging for over 2 years, and writing poems for 19 years. Of course a lot of my poems are about my favourite subject Carole, but since I've been blogging my writings have become quite varied, humourous, mystical, observational, and even a few monster/horror poems.

Winter Sun

At Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word, Discovery. Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here … and my poem below is in response to their prompt

Winter Sun

What my careless eyes perceived

My unprepared senses

Soon discovered, they were deceived

The day appeared sunny enough for a stroll

And I ventured into the afternoon cold

Ten steps out, a glacial wind took hold

The sharp Antarctic blast

Snapped every limb within grasp

My breath turned into icy glass

My ears were stabbed by frigid darts

My cheeks were slapped by gloves of frozen brass

And the winter sun failed to warm my heart

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) July 2023

Throwback Friday, Flying Bricks of War

Today I am presenting another poem that will be appearing in my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”. I wrote ‘Flying Bricks of War’ in May 2021, and the poem will be the opening piece in Chapter 6. War! Without Peace

Featured Image Above: Gaza Strip border, Kibbutz Netiv Ha’Asara, Israel © Kai Wiendenhofer

Flying Bricks of War

There is a divisive brick wall

That stands harsh and tall

To stop people breaking their fall

Then the leaders in ivory towers

Ceased talking about peace and flowers

And hurled bricks into that sandy strip

One brick after another brick

Flew from one side to the other

Smashing innocent children and mothers

Flying bricks crumbling into dust

Creating dirty clouds of mistrust

The walls of Babylon fell again

As brick upon brick crushed human brains

Brick upon brick filled the bloody drains

Brick upon brick killed and maimed

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) July 2023

Almost Home (a Senryu)

“I move with the leaves
I shine with the chrome
I’m almost alive
I’m almost at home” … Leonard Cohen

Almost Home (a Senryu)

Job done, five straight days

I am almost exhausted

Triumphant, I coped

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) July 2023

Forever is a Long Time

I received some special news during the week

A thing that happens to most books and their authors

But for this old poet the occurrence has extra significance

My wonderful editor/publisher, Judy

Deposited my books, Tullawalla and Perceptions

With the Australian National Library, for archiving

The books and me (Ivor Steven) as the author

Are now forever a part of Australia’s Artistic history

Not bad for the descendant of a convict

Yessiree!

I can almost hear them cheering and clapping

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) July 2023

Back On The Tools. (adapted from “An Old-time Plumber”)

Sorry to my readers and followers for my lack of blogging this week … The old plumber/poet traded his quill in for his old rusty spanner and dirty hammer …
Drawing Above: done for me in 2017 by, Rose – https://poetrummager.org/

Back On The Tools. (adapted from “An Old-time Plumber”)

Could I actually do the task?

Am I physically strong enough?

Am I mentally sharp and able enough?

To endure four to fives days of hard work?

Surprise, surprise, I have survived the first three days

Job is nearing completion and the clients are suitably pleased

And I am home beside the heater and enjoying a red wine

Although when I finished it was already dark

And my back was stiff as red-gum bark

But a job stamped by my old-time quality trademark

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) July 2023

A Ladybug Flies in From Bensalem

I have just completed the second edit and redraft of the manuscript for my book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”, and officially the poem below, will be the Book’s opening poem in, Chapter 1, ‘Little Creatures and The Birds

A Ladybug Flies in From Bensalem

A scarlet caped ladybug

Lands on my sleeve and gently shrugs

Resting there, snug as a bug on a rug

And honouring me with love and soft hugs

Nature’s tiniest of goddesses

Who fans us with butterfly kisses

Kindly sharing good fortune and best wishes

Then quietly fluttering away to the next Hibiscus

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) July 2023

Moon Shadows (a Tanka)

Moon Shadows (a Tanka)

Both the evening moon

And the bright afternoon moon

Decorate my room

With gray slithery shadows

That dance across my pillows

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) July 2023

I Am An Emotional Guy

Sun is shining on our table … Frankie perusing my poem … Frankie gives me that look

I Am An Emotional Guy

We are at the Café

Sheltering under the verandah

The winter sky is gray

And drizzly rain gently

Dribbles across our table

Then the sun streaks through the clouds

I am listening to music by, ‘Sigur Ros’

And out of nowhere

I start sobbing rivers of tears

I am an emotional guy

Teary during the worst of times

Or even at the best of times

After you watch the Sigur Ros video below

You might appreciate why I cried so instantly!

I found the “Andra” audio/music/video to be very touching

I do not understand the lyrics

But I do comprehend the sensitive nature

Of their passionately emotive music

The table napkins were handy

For wiping my watery eyes

My Pal Frankie, knowingly smiles at me

As the dappled midday sun

Slowly dry these smeared words

That splashed across my blue lines

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) July 2023

Geelong Writers, Winter Solstice Challenge, in 22 Words

My poem “Winter Slaps Autumn in the Eye” was one of 17 selected for publication in the Geelong Writers, “Winter Solstice Challenge” Brochure. Below is a photo of how the poem appears in the Geelong Writers Brochure

Winter Slaps Autumn In the Eye (a Tanka)

Time shortens in stride

Autumn leaves pepper the ground

Winter slaps the sky

Midday sun closes her eyes

Naked trees wisely survive

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) June 2023

Throwback Friday, Who Hears Me?

Today I am presenting another poem that will be appearing in my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”. I wrote ‘Who Hears Me’ in February 2021, and the poem will be the opening piece in Chapter 5. Observations, “Until Eyes Hear Sound”

Who Hears Me?

My ears are funnels
But I do not want to hear
The voices

My lips do part
But I do not speak
The words

My knees do bend
But I cannot sit
While I can still stand

My eyes are open
But I do not want to see
My shadow falling

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) June 2023