Category: Dome Poets

Never a Dull Moment

After a week of words and wandering, we finally rest. I apologise for my slow blogging replies — time has been sprinting while this old poet hobbles behind.

I’ll be reading my poems “Drumsticks” and “Dear, Danny” at the next Dome Poetry meeting — a relaxed afternoon of Postcards and Poetry at The Courthouse Museum.




Never a Dull Moment

I’m enjoying an extra-busy weekend —
Creative Geelong market on Saturday,
Dome Poetry meeting Sunday morning,
where I recited my poem
“The Portrait That Found Me.”

I also presented two poems
“Drumsticks” and “Dear, Danny,”
which I’ll be reading at the next meeting
At The Courthouse Museum, Drysdale,
For an afternoon of Postcards and Poetry.

So as you can see,
I’ve written lots more poems during the week —
over and above my normal daily output.
Needless to say, I’m exhaustipated again.

And here at the Box Cafe on Sunday afternoon,
we are having a much-needed rest and relaxation




A quiet promise before the song begins: the three poems from today’s journey will soon be finding their place here.





Ivor Steven  ©  May 2026

I’m Not Here

At our Dome group meeting, Jen — our chairperson — said, “I’m not here next meeting, so we need to choose a theme for next month.” A few of us laughed, and someone replied, “Well, I’m Not Here sounds like a theme in itself.” And just like that, the idea settled over us, light as a wink.

The Geelong Library and Heritage Centre … affectionately known as The Dome.


And for Sadje’s, What do you see # 337- 20 April, 2026, I chose her first prompt image >> What do you see # 337- 20 April, 2026 – Keep it alive

This image shows someone holding three cups and the cups are made in the image of a woman’s face. The expression on the three cups are slightly different from each other.





I’m Not Here

I’m not here — I’m in limbo,
behind a solitary glass window,
there on the north side of the Dome;
it stands out like a fairy’s magical home.

I’m not here, but I am somewhere
high above the Gingko in the fresh air,
where I hear the fairy Godmother’s vacant chair
whisper haunting poetic quotes by Voltaire.

“‎Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget
to sing in the lifeboats.” ~ Voltaire
“The right to free speech is more important
than the content of the speech.” ~ Voltaire
“Many are destined to reason wrongly;
others, not to reason at all; and others,
to persecute those who do reason.” ~ Voltaire

And still, from that quiet window in the Dome,
I’m not here — yet somehow feeling at home.




Somewhere between presence and absence, the music carries what words can’t quite hold.




Ivor Steven ©  April 2026

I Am Not a Songbird

For the Dome Poetry group’s May meeting, our poetry assignment/poem is as follows

1.       We are each given a poetry book. (They are all different.)
2.       We each select a poem from the book that we like or dislike.
3.       We write our opinion of the poem in poetry form.
4.       We write a separate poem in the same style as the original…about any subject.
5.       OPTIONAL: Points 3 & 4 could be amalgamated. ie one poem

The poetry book I received was “The C.J. Dennis Collection.”… a famous Australian poet and author, known as “The Prince of Writers.”
I chose to amalgamate Points 3 & 4 and wrote my poem ‘I Am Not a Songbird’, in the rhyming style of C.J. Dennis’s whimsical poem “Heredity”, which I have scanned and attached below my poem.



I Am Not a Songbird

You may ask me (said the Corella)
Why am I so noisy and obnoxious
Like a protester with a loud hailer
At a meeting of the Labor Party Caucus

You may ask me why I’m not a songbird
Instead of a critter that’s always squawking
In a screeching way that no one else can hear
I offer no excuses for my chaotic talking

Yet, I’m all for a sweet lullaby
But for my breed, a soft tune is impossible
I’m often repetitive like a buzzing blowfly
However, I am quite pretty and aeronautical

My vocalisations are certainly unique
And it’s how I communicate with my girls
So, get used to my cheeky squeak
And enjoy my showy swirls and twirls









Ivor Steven (c) May 2025

My “Dome” Poetry Friends (a Limerick)

Feature Image Above is of The magnificent Geelong Library, affectionately known as “The Dome”

Today was the ‘Dome Poets’ Christmas Break-up Brunch, at the “Box Office Cafe” and the fun assignment for members was to write a short poem, anecdote, or limerick about individuals within the group.

The Collage Below is a collection of the anecdotes and limericks about “me”, written by my “Dome” poet friends and recited at our Christmas break-up gathering.






My “Dome” Poetry Friends (a Limerick)


We’re an enthusiastic writing group of ten
Who meet at the “Dome” every now and then
Poetry friends, Mark, Martin, Emma, and Jenny
Together with, Trish, Diane, Athalie, and Jacque
We are warmly encouraged by our witty convenor, Jen













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Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)


Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books



OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) December 2024

Destination


My poem ‘Destination’ is a “Writing between the lines” exercise for the May gathering of our Dome Poets group here in Geelong. I chose Leonard Cohen’s poem, ‘The Goal’ (attached below my poem), for my attempt to write a poem between each of his lines!

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is: Departure. Please visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here.
Between here and there, “Destination” is a part of Departure



Destination, by Ivor Steven

The curtains are open
The front door is ajar
So, I can hear her sing
From her distant star

I do not own much
My soul is a gold mine
I haven’t lost my touch
My heart is kind

I share what I have
I have hope and love
Couldn’t stop the flood
Couldn’t hold her glove

I walk alone
I look content
Regrets are few
Despair ferments

I push on and on
I do not complain
I’m still alive
I’m numb to the pain

No one asks
No one knows
About finality
Under the snow


===========================

“The Goal”, by Leonard Cohen


I can’t leave my house
Or answer the phone
I’m going down again
But I’m not alone

Settling at last
Accounts of the soul
This for the trash
That paid in full

As for the fall, it
Began long ago
Can’t stop the rain
Can’t stop the snow

I sit in my chair
I look at the street
The neighbor returns
My smile of defeat

I move with the leaves
I shine with the chrome
I’m almost alive
I’m almost at home

No one to follow
And nothing to teach
Except that the goal
Falls short of the reach







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Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/product-page/until-eyes-hear-sound


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) May 2024

Stars

Last Sunday morning I attended the “The Dome Poets” Christmas Party ‘brunch’, and we were each to bring a short poem about our poetry group (Secret), which was then folded and drawn from a hat, and recited by the drawer, and then we had to guess who wrote the poem … A very enjoyable session indeed, but I didn’t guess the authors too well … Haha, I got mine right! and one other …

Featured Image Above: The Dome Poets Group, taken at our Anthology book launch in June




Stars (My Poem, for the Dome Poetry Christmas Party)


Another year has been and gone

Today our words are secretly drawn

We’ll open our eyes and hear the peaceful sounds

Of our poems being eloquently unbound

A time for the Dome’s stars to be crowned








Ivor Steven (c) December 2023