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.

The Last Chicane (Revised) 

“The Last Chicane” is a poem I wrote in October 2019, and this morning I reworded several lines …





The Last Chicane (Revised)


 

I have been climbing every rung 

Even the broken ones unsung 

I have played every sad song 

Even when the words were wrong 


I saw my bird fly away 

Even though her nest stays here today 

I have praised my swan’s eternal fight 

Even through her turbulent flights 


I am listening to the bells chiming 

Even above lyrics that are not rhyming 

I am beginning to flutter my wings again 

Even after missing the last chicane 

I am preparing for the next equestrian 

Even though I am a lost pedestrian 






Ivor Steven (c) September 2022

A Steep Slide (a Musette)

Recently Ryan Stone [https://daysofstone.wordpress.com/] introduced me to a new poem format Musette, and today I am presenting my first attempt at writing a Musette.
“Musette” 
three verses 
first line – 2 syllables 
second line – 4 syllables 
third line – 2 syllables 
rhyme scheme – a/b/a c/d/c e/f/e 
title reflects poems content 


A Steep Slide (a Musette)




I creep

Down the steep slide

I weep


Betrayed

I hide and shake

Afraid


I crawl

Away from shame

And bawl






Ivor Steven (c) September 2022

Miles From Home

At my ‘Dome Poetry Group’ (here in Geelong) the prompt is to write a poem (any form) inspired by a phrase on the last page of a book. (Reveal the source.) I chose “Another Yellow Door” by C Flaherty Brown, and below is the last phrase in her book, followed by my ‘Fictional Poem’, Miles From Home.




Miles From Home 


Today 

I went left, instead of right 

No matter what direction 

Or decision I choose 

At the end of day 

There will be night 

My time to rest  

And remain out of sight 


Tomorrow 

I shall take the backroads 

Miles away from my troubled life 

Miles and miles 

Beyond those evil eyes of strife 


Tonight 

I will sleep under the stars 

With my loyal companion


Now

He gives me that inquisitive stare 

“Don’t look at me like that 

I know mate, I know 

I should never have left the wife” 






Ivor Steven ©  September 2022

Promote Yourself Monday: September 12, 2022

Dear readers and followers, here’s a great opportunity for your writings to be read by other writers, and also to find and meet other writers. You are very welcome to participate, come along and visit our writer-friendly site…..by clicking on the link at the bottom of this article >>
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braveandrecklessblog's avatarGo Dog Go Café

Welcome toPromote Yourself Monday. All Go Dog Go Cafe community members are invited to postonelink to one specific piece of their writing (600 words or less please!) they have published on their blog, Facebook page, or Instagram feed into the comments section below.

If you post a link, be sure to read some of the other great writing people have linked to.

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Salvation Sunday (a Birthday poem for Kylie)

My Faerie writing book and the words I was penciling today



Salvation Sunday (a Birthday poem for Kylie)


A lazy Sunday afternoon

We are both resting

Frankie is napping/snoring

As usual he lets me share the bed


I am penciling these words

Into my Faerie writing book

A well used birthday gift

From my adorable niece Kerri

She lives in Philadelphia

Here I am in Geelong

We are worlds apart

But joined at the heart


We were chatting earlier

The time difference still confuses me

Yesterday was her niece’s birthday

Kylie is now fourteen

Wow, time flies, she was only ten

When I last saw her


Happy birthday dear Kylie

I miss your gorgeous smile

Hey! I miss all you guys

Cheers from uncle Ivor

Hugs and kisses to everyone

Over there in Philadelphia






Ivor Steven (c) September 2022

A Nomad (Revised)

A poem I originally wrote in July 2019, and today I am posting this revised version.



A Nomad (Revised)


I’m writing a letter to yesterday’s nomad

The drifter of my dreams, alone and sad

My nomad’s world is flowing wider

Broken trees floating on a flooding river


These empty words, today seem drier

The receding waters, now a wet season’s Indian giver


This final message, I falsely send

We shake hands, smile, our eyes pretend

My heart sinks, my nomad boards the next boat

Noah’s ark departs, I walk home, alone, in my raincoat






Ivor Steven (c)  September 2022

Throwback Friday, Some Time Now, by Ivor Steven

Happy 46th Anniversary Carole

ivor20's avatarGo Dog Go Café

A melancholic poem I wrote 10 years ago, and our 46th anniversary day is the 10th of September …

Some Time Now

Today’s anniversary is foty-six years

A marriage of happy smiles, then sad tears

Our color is bothpurple and sapphire blue

Representing the depth and stability of you

Anniversaries, they come, and they go

Some time now since that final May snow

Anniversaries, my soul does not let them pass

Some time now, I reminisce the last

Anniversaries, none ever forgotten

Some time now since your everlasting smile was taken

Anniversaries, over coral and every colour

Some time now since your tidal wave of valour

Anniversaries, when love grew stronger

Some time now since the years became longer

Anniversaries, covered by, love, suffering and pain

Some time now since our river flooded with rain

Your troubles fell, with an Autumn leaf

Forever enshrined, our promises of belief

Ivor…

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Frankie’s Spring Haircut

I think it was before Easter the last time I had Frankie groomed, and today he was definitely overdue for a haircut. He was well behaved and a thorough gentleman throughout …


Frankies Spring Haircut


At first he wasn’t sure, but he was soon back to majestic self


Frankie sitting in the park and roaming in the park


Frankie waiting at the front door and Frankie goes to bed


Yes Frankie … It’s a tough life being a Doggie!!






Ivor Steven (c) September 2022

Horse Before the Cart 

At Weekly, the Wednesday Challenge is the word: TREES. Please go over and visit their fabulous by clicking on >> Here. My poem is not directly about trees, but I believe that in one way or another, life here on earth is connected to our “Trees”
Featured Photo: by Derrick Knight, and a sincere thank you to Derrick for permitting me to use his fabulous image here in collaboration with my poem. This is now our “41st” collaborative article, and our joint book “Perceptions” is now in the hands of my editor/publisher (Judy, from Jaymah Press), and hopefully, the book will be in print before Christmas. >> https://derrickjknight.com/

Horse Before the Cart 


Bitumen road 

Horse and cart 

Centuries apart 


Unopened loads 

Dreams of tomorrow 

Library books unborrowed 


 

Ancient ode

Horse before the cart 

Centuries before the Ark 






Ivor Steven (c) September 2022