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.

Purple and Mauve

Purple and Mauve

 

As my evening courtyard garden glows

Old flowers cast purple and mauve shadows

Upon the muse of my dreams

Against a background, once leafy green

Hanging there, a mauve fairy lavender

Above an ageing purple avatar

Looking like that flowering woody sage tree

Petals of purple and mauve, waiting to be free

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Dec 2019

Afterwards

After a day of giving thanks

The night sky’s moon did glow

Before the next day begun

In this commonwealth of man

We celebrate Boxing Day

By continuing an old tradition

Of giving gifts to the poor people

With the annual charity gatherings

Of feasts and presents for the needy

And here today, my sister’s birthday

A family party with more festivities

Again a day of sharing love and happiness

Giving thanks for our togetherness

Ivor Steven [c] 2019

Almost There

Almost There

 

So I Say Hello to you

I turned away from you

After almost six weeks

Of this harrowing streak

It’s been no stroll in the park

Resting here in the semi dark

The painful knives have been withdrawn

The headaches have almost retired

I’m almost well enough

To enjoy Christmas with family

And by the start of two thousand and twenty

I’ll be almost here, I’ll be almost me again

So I say hello to you

And wish you a happy and healthy festive season

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Dec 2019

A Cheery Santa

A Cheery Santa

 

The season of merry cheer is here

There’s always many Christmas parties

They seem to begin weeks before

Yesterday Santa was at the Valhalla Bar

Ho ho, he was big happy Santa

With a sackful of gifts for everyone

I’m one of the oldest children there

I know he’s not really real

As I had a beer with him 10 minutes before

Yes, big friendly Reg, became Santa

For me, a stubbie holder and a T-shirt

Even a can of Valhalla beer

And Santa Reg joined me for more frothy cheer

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Dec 2019

Love Surrounds Every Tree

The final photo challenge of the year “Weekly Prompts is: The Tree!  Please go and visit their fabulous by clicking >> Here

Love Surrounds Every Tree.

 

In Geelong we’ve a fancy Christmas tree

Floating on Corio Bay, for everyone to see

The Tree’s alight every night

Full of electric candles, shining bright

Also there’s a Tree at our council park

However he’s looking slightly stark

And here, under my verandah, I’ve a little Tree

Standing below our Tullawalla sign, for all the family to see

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Dec 2019

A Midday Mirage

A Midday Mirage

 

I was leaning on my thoughts today

They buckled under the coffee tray

Even in the hands of the sun’s gloss

The dark envelops my minds moss

My heavy head collapsed at midday

Whereupon, closed eyes saw her bravery

 

Again I am witnessing the uncommon

Visualising beyond my daydreams canyon

There, a piece of my heart I had lost

Being cradled in the arms of her southern cross

A sparkling star from earth’s diamond mines

She a flawed jewel, eternally shines

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Dec 2019

A Christmas Diamond, A Sparkling Jewel (Revised)

 

I dreamt of your radiant face last night

So serene, a diamond, a dove, so pure white

Not sad, just vivid memories, oh, so bright

And I’ve plenty of tears, don’t worry, I’m alright

Visions of your bravery, courage above and beyond

So gracious, an everlasting smile, our iconic bond

Completely in awe, amazing, a personal anthem

And I declare, you were natures stellar blossom

I felt your pain, your sorrow, revealed to only a few

So uncomplaining, never a burden, never a shrew

Thinking the whole world should be like you

Wishing this hungry planet could be cheerful too

Wondering is life, sometimes ordained cruel?

But I’ll continue on, for you, my sparkling Jewel

 

Featured Image, DHGate.com  rinhoo jewelry.

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Dec 2019

Time To Think

I’ve been thinking and reflecting on the subject of “time” quite a lot lately….. maybe I’ve been in a state convalescing for too long….. but today, after my exercise group this morning, I’m going to head off to the surf beach for a swim….. it’ll be my first dip 20 months…… Yeah !!….. Below is my poem I wrote back in March, when I was finally given the Doctor’s all-clear to go to America in April …..

Time To Think

 

I’m thinking of, time and space

Or am I thinking of, time in space

Time

a second

an hour

a light-year

Space

could be infinite

Or a void

inside your head

The head controls your body

To walk

in your space

Your space

where you belong

You belong

a part of the human race

Right or wrong

We live our life

on this place

From the moment we are born

Until the clock chimes

your time to die

Leaving a void of empty space

And we drop out of the race

Becoming a soul of eternal grace

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  March 2019

 

My Leftover Wine

Was yesterday a mistake

My son’s best friend died

So who am I to complain

About my leftover pain

 

Was yesterday a mistake

I took my body to work and I tired

I over-sweated and my muscles strained

Not long ago, my clients brother died

So who am I to complain

About my leftover pain

 

Today I’m going to give life another try

Even if these aches make me cry

My wife suffered and tried for thirty years

She would smile, never show me tears

So who am I to complain

About my leftover wine

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Dec 2019