Alex Steven (Dad), February 5th 1924 – July 3rd 2015
Under a Clear Blue Sky, I’m Thinking of You
(Happy Birthday Dad)
Oine hundred years ago
When the summer sun
Rose for you
Did the midday moon?
Shine on you too
Ivor Steven (c) February 5th 2024
Yesterday, Judy, my editor/publisher, set me one last task before my manuscript could be sent to the printers, which was to design a Back Cover with an interesting ‘Blurb’ for my new book. By using my ‘Canva App’, and reworking Kerri’s Front Cover design, I was happy with the image that I created. Then the difficult part was writing an appropriate ‘Blurb’ for my book, which was to be my debut attempt at writing such a piece. After many torn-up drafts and lots of frustrating self-doubts, I eventually produced my ‘Blurb’.
“Until Eyes Hear Sound”, My ‘Blurb’
The title ‘Until Eyes Hear Sound’ could mean different things depending on your interpretation. It could be a poetic expression, a metaphor for waiting for something to happen, or a way of describing a state of deep concentration where one is so focused on one’s inner vision that one becomes oblivious to external sounds.
Ivor’s poems do not suggest having the answers, but his words encourage you to think about the environment we live in, as he ponders the purpose of our existence in the Universe.
“If you love poetry that challenges, inspires, and moves you, this book is for you.”
Ivor Steven (c) February 2024
Early July 2017, my blog/website was only 3 weeks old when I wrote this abstract poem, ‘Fruit Loopy’ … hmmm … and I am not sure what my thoughts were at the time … but I had only been in my new little abode for 5 months, and I was finishing off building the verandah, and starting to create a courtyard garden … I suppose I was “dreaming” about how much Carole would have loved my new home, so hence the “funny title”
Fruit Loopy
The juices of expectation
are upon me again.
Dreaming of yesteryear
and clambering for today.
Through my pores
a taste of sweetness.
My apple of love
the fruit for tomorrow.
Vale, Melaine Safka, she was one of kind
Ivor Steven (c) February 2024
How Many?
How many desert wars will we have to foresee?
Before all the armies are drowned by the sea
How many bridges are we to burn?
Before we reach the point of no return
How many children must suffer again and again?
Before humanity learns how to steer the peace train
Ivor Steven (c) February 2024
Today I received a lovely message from Lisa, Editor/Publisher at ‘Prolific Pulse Press’ >> https://www.prolificpulse.com/
Dear Ivor, I love the poem you just sent for Cadence and would love to publish it with the anthology. It truly put a smile on my face.
Of course, I cannot post the poem until after the Anthology has been published in March, but I can tell you that my delightful poem is about “Charlie the Caterpillar shuffling over the track to help his little friend, Billy the Bee
Ivor Steven (c) March 2024
Featured Image Above: The “Lighthouse”, is an illustration by Kerri Costello, which appears in my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound” as the introduction image for Chapter 5, Observations, “Until Eyes Hear Sound”. The book contains 10 intriguing Chapters, and Kerri has graciously presented a creative drawing for each Chapter.
I captured these photos about an hour before sunset, and strangely enough, each photo had a diagonal white sunbeam across the images, prompting me to write the ‘Tanka’ below.
Nature’s Lighthouses (a Tanka)
The dazzling sunlight
Ignites the trees’ timid leaves
Into white lanterns
Nature’s neon lighthouses
Showing us the causeway home
Please Note: The 3 cover designs are by, Kerri Costello
Until Eyes Hear Sound, will be available in March
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/
OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c) January 2024
Cloud Nine! (a Haiku)
Chasing clouds is fun
Catching clouds is ecstasy
Living on cloud nine
Ivor Steven (c) January 2024
In my soon-to-be-published new book “Unti Eyes Hear Sound”, the Senryu below, is my dedication piece to my late wife Carole.
Triggers ( A Senryu)
“Oh, that knowing smile
The wink of acknowledgment
A wave, a warm hand”
Ivor Steven (c) January 2024
This afternoon, while lazing around at the Cafe
I could feel the world spinning around me
Oh, what a world I did foresee
My photos were taken last night, of Venus and then the Full Moon.
A Mapie begins his flight, a leaf is swinging in the breeze, and Frankie is the centre of my spinning world.
Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is: Chance Please visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here … and yes, we are taking a “Chance” by holding on, every time the world spins and swings around.
A Spinning and Swinging World
the cycle of nature
whirls around
like a spinning top
then slows down
at the equator’s plateau
pausing there
to swing on the world’s axis
either, swaying to the right
or leaning to the left
but always within reach
of life’s balancing point
Please Note: The 3 cover designs are by, Kerri Costello
Until Eyes Hear Sound, will be available in March
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/
OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c) January 2024
I find the Musette’s restrictive poetry format, to be very challenging
A Musette is,
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
The title reflects the poem’s content
The Mystique (a Musette)
Friday
I said to you
“Please stay”
You said
“Only one night
Twin beds”
Next week
We savoured the
Mystique
Ivor Steven (c) January 2024
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 