Anthology – Ivor.Plumber/Poet

Haiku for Soulmates in the Museum of Modern Japanese Literature

Haiku from around the world now resting in Japan’s premier literary museum — a milestone worth celebrating.

This morning brought extraordinary news from Gabriela Marie Milton of Literary Revelations Press — news worth celebrating.
Learn more about Literary Revelations Press: >> https://literaryrevelations.com

The Museum of Modern Japanese Literature in Tokyo has officially accepted four Literary Revelations anthologies into its permanent collection:

Petals of Haiku
Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power of Japanese Art
Haiku for Soulmates

Thanks to a thoughtful presentation by Literary Revelations’ Artist in Residence, Hikari, the museum recognised the depth and authenticity of these global haiku voices. Their decision reflects a growing appreciation for international expressions of Japanese poetic forms.

For Gabriela, for Hikari, and for every contributor, this is a moment of genuine pride. These books will now rest in Japan’s premier literary institution — preserved for future scholars, poets, and readers.

As a contributor to both Tranquility and Haiku for Soulmates, I’m deeply honoured to be part of this moment.

Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku

Let the music settle softly over the moment — a quiet echo of everything worth celebrating.

Ivor Steven © June 2026

Literary Revelations Press, Anthology, Haiku for Soulmates

I’m very pleased to share that Literary Revelations Press has accepted five of my haiku for publication in their new anthology, Haiku for Soulmates, edited by Gabriela Marie Milton. A lovely surprise, and a moment worth celebrating.

Learn more about Literary Revelations Press: https://literaryrevelations.com

Not one of the selected five — just a fresh haiku to mark the moment.

Birds of a Feather (a Haiku)

The black and white birds
Fly happily together
A wing span apart

A favourite song to accompany the moment

Ivor Steven © April 2026

Geelong Writers Anthology 2025

On Wednesday evening, I attended the launch of the 2025 Geelong Writers Anthology. My poem, “A Darwin Orange Sunset”, appears in the collection, and I was genuinely honoured to be selected by my peers at Geelong Writers Inc.

The gathering was held alongside our Christmas Break‑up night, which added a lovely sense of community and celebration to the occasion.

I’m also pleased to share that the poem will feature in my upcoming book, Time Hears No Sound, in Chapter 2: Nature — An Unbiased Time Keeper.

A Darwin Orange Sunset

Twilight’s
Burly orange sky
Bedazzled my eyes
When
The hessian horizon
And the sun’s waxing resin
Flung
Streams of yellow beams
Across the paddock’s
Furrowed seams

Golden ponds
Flooded
Over the meadow
But did not drown
The field’s residing
Scarecrow

The arbitrary warrior
Accepted the world’s
Rotary mirror
And innately smiles
About being a human’s
Privileged curator

To accompany the poem, I’ve chosen Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” — a song whose quiet ache and twilight glow echo the mood of the piece.

Ivor Steven © December 2025

Anomaly Street, Geelong Writers Anthology/Chapbook 2025

On Wednesday evening, I attended the launch of ‘Anomaly Street’, the 2025 Geelong Writers Anthology/Chapbook. Two of my poems appear in the collection, and I was honoured to recite A Malay Kris and A Cracked Brick Wall.
The gathering was warm and welcoming, each reading revealing the diversity of voices within Geelong Writers. For me, the highlight was hearing my words resonate aloud among so many fine works. Holding my copy of Anomaly Street, I felt part of a living street of voices, distinct yet harmonising in community.

The poem is composed of comments/anecdotes I posted on some of my fellow WordPress writers’ articles from that time. In stanza order, they are.

1 – Nancy, Order Of The Snake – The Elephant’s Trunk
2 – Beth, expression. | I didn’t have my glasses on….
3 – Bart, Monday Poetry Prompt: Under the Cushions | Living Poetry
4 – Violet, Untouched by Regret | Thru Violet’s Lentz
5 – Ivor, A response to Nancy’s comment, https://ivorplumberpoet.press/2025/08/14/surprise-surprise-a-tanka/
6 – David, Breaking hours, or: Yet it flows – The Skeptic’s Kaddish

My second poem in the Anthology

Ivor Steven (c) November 2025

A New Anthology (a Tanka)

Feature Image: Please note that my copy of the Geelong Writers Inc. Anthology 2024 was signed by the editor, Judy Rankin, and Judy is also the publisher/editor of my 3 books, Tullawalla, Perceptions, and Until Eyes Hear Sound.

A New Anthology (a Tanka)

Through rain, hail, or shine
I am the messenger bird
I’ve important news
About the Anthology
Don’t let the wires clip my wings

And here is my poem from the Geelong Writers Inc. Anthology

Ivor Steven (c) May 2025

Join Some Of The Poets From Natures Discovered!

“On April 30th, we had the opportunity to get together to talk to each other, some for the first time! I enjoyed seeing, meeting, and talking to the people of Natures Discovered!
Go team! 😊 Enjoy the video, everyone!” … Susi Bocks, editor.
Whoops, I joined a few minutes late! … it was 3.00 am Thursday in Geelong!

Here are the two pieces that I read …

Finality

after we have consumed
the leftover wine
and desecrated the sundial’s shadow
the dark-side of the moon
will finally recede from view

Co-existence

Beneath the trees and bushes
Lives an underground network
Prospering on giving and receiving

Ivor Steven (c) May 2025

Wrapping up the “Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures” Book Blog Tour

This is the Final Day of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures Book Blog Tour:
Kaye Booth, our editor, is wrapping up the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures Book Blog Tour. We’ve all had a great tour this past week

Please click on the link below to read Kaye’s informative article.

Wrapping up the “Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures” Book Blog Tour

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures

Ivor Steven (c) April 2025

Day 6 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures Book Blog Tour

This is Day 6 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures Book Blog Tour:
Kay Castaneda is giving today’s presentation. It features DL Mullan reading her poem “Daybreak.”

Please click on the link below to read Kay’s informative article.

Welcome to the “Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures” Book Blog Tour

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures

Daybreak, by DL Mullun

Daybreak
The heavy sky lightens.
Night retreats.
Illustrious topaz hues sharpen until the grand arc
is a cascade of brilliant blue tones.
Cloudless, the sea’s reflection smooths away
any hint of the cosmic shroud.
Behind the rays, stars slumber and planets wait.
Yet, the moon hangs there: tranquil and sheer
an unfinished watercolor, framed.
Never ceases to reveal itself, the satellite balances
the Earth and shifts the tides.
Now, the once opaque sphere fades away; time reaffirms
that this guardian too must conceal her mysteries.
Although the waning gibbous departs, she remains our
silent company throughout the constellations.
Daylight irradiates.
The waking world glows

Ivor Steven (c) April 2025

Day 5 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures Book Blog Tour

This is Day 5 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures Book Blog Tour:
Today’s presentation is by Michelle Ayon Navajas. It features Barbara Harris Leonhard reading her poem “Sleeping with Giants.”

Please click on the link below to read Michelle’s excellent article. I assure you that her informative post is well worth reading.

Day 5 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures Book Blog Tour

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures

Ivor Steven (c) April 2025

Day 4 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures Book Blog Tour

Thank you to Carla for her fabulous Promotional Post about “our” Anthology, Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures
Please click on the link below to read her entire article …

Day 4 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures Book Blog Tour

Ivor Steven (c) April 2025