Somewhere, Beyond My Time 

This is the second piece that I wrote on Monday morning (Sunday afternoon PDT) when I attended the Writing Circle Poetry Group via Zoom with our host/convener, the gracious Ali Grimshaw >> https://flashlightbatteries.blog/online-writing-circles/ and after listening to her recite a second selected piece of poetry, we were then encouraged to write our own poetic response in “6 mins” … and mine was a short 6 line poem



Somewhere, Beyond My Time 


Please give me more time 

Time to lay a foundation stone 

So, I can build my marble stairway 


The stairway I need to create 

The stairway that I must climb 

A climb to somewhere, beyond my time








Until Eyes Hear Sound
Not available on Lulu or Amazon yet … but you may purchase it from me, via this web page or my email >> ivorrs20@gmail.com

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) March 2024

Throwback Friday, Fruit Loopy

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

A Star Called Home 





A Star Called Home  


I am high flying  

On the back of Phillip 

My mystical fairy Penguin 


I am the co-pilot 

As we zoom over the halfway marker  

That line in the sand 

Now, there is no turning back 


We are a dynamic duo 

Wholeheartedly committed 

To fulfill our dreams 


Ungainly we may be 

As we skim above the deepest sea 

Toward the blue horizon 

Chasing the cosmic sky 

Looking for a star called home  




Throwback Friday, Morning Starshine

Today’s Throwback Friday poem is a hidden gem from March 2018, and as is my way, I have made some changes, all for the better I hope …




Morning Starshine (Revised)


asleep, out of view

dawn blazes through

blinds me from above

piercing my dreams of love

uncovering memory heartbeats

exposed to the future’s one-way streets

letters sprinkle over my pillow

etching words upon yesterday’s halo

reflective pages and blotches

wooden posts and hollow notches

under cracked foundation blocks

narrow jargon and hidden plots

inside poems of mine

glazed with her starshine










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) January 2024

Throwback Friday, A Distant Ship (Revised)

Hello dear readers and followers, here’s a re-posting of a poem I wrote in September 2017, and as is my way I have revised the piece for today’s Throwback Friday article.





A Distant Ship (Revised)


Am I afraid, or am I being slowly discouraged.

Dismayed by the emptiness in my wavering heart.

Am I consumed, or am I being bodily starved.

Eaten by the cells of my inner sentiments.


Am I senseless, or have I been possessed.

Devoured by the recess of my lonely soul.

Am I swimming backstroke behind a distant love-boat.

Drowning in the wake of the passing recovery vessel.







Ivor Steven (c) November 2023

Aristotle

Over at Moonwashed Musings, the Weekly Prompt is: Mottled Sky Page >> https://amanpan.blog/2023/10/31/moonashed-weekly-prompt-mottled-sky-page/ …I have been overdoing it lately … writing until I am almost exhausted, so my response to the prompt is a bit jaded and moodily a ‘Bittersweet’ poem.

And at “Weekly Prompts” Wednesday Challenge the prompt word is: Bittersweet. You can visit their wonderful site by clicking on >> HERE



Aristotle


My magic Genie has been bottled

I was writing beyond full-throttle

My pencil became rough and cobbled

And my dreams were infirmed and mottled

Then I thought about the genius of Aristotle

“There is only one way to avoid criticism:

do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”







Ivor Steven (c) October 2023

Moon Dew

Please Note: All attached Photos presented in this article were taken by Derrick Knight, and he has kindly allowed me reproduce them here on my poetry site. You may visit his wonderful article, and site by clicking on this link >> https://derrickjknight.com/2023/10/02/moons-for-denzil/



Moon Dew 

 
 
The moon slithered  

into my bedroom 

through a crack beside  

her nostalgic heirloom  

and lowered himself 

onto my breastplate  

stared into my eyes  

and told me straight 


“There is no need for tears  

I am here to ease your fears 

before I leave  

I will give you  

a loving spoonful  

of magical moon dew  

my universal cure  

for the morning blues” 


“Thank you, Mr. Moon”  

as I joyfully sipped  

from his silver spoon




 




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) October 2023

Throwback Friday, Crooked Ways (Revision #2)

I originally wrote this poem in January 2019, here today I have revised the piece for a second time.




Crooked Ways (Revision #2)



I’m not to be told, how to live my life

It’s been over a decade since having lost my wife

I’m not a great philosopher

Nor a modern fashion writer

I’m not a sprightly young surfer

Never clever enough to be bursar

Too old to be a toiling plumber

And these days I prefer to pen poetry

Some say you are never too old

Whatever, I shall always be bold

With my plans to reach for the stars

And continue to travel my crooked ways






Ivor Steven (c) October 2023

Throwback Friday, Epilogue, My Cloudy Vision

Today I am presenting the Epilogue’ poem that will be appearing in my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”. and “My Cloudy Vision” is a poem I wrote in September 2018, and it will be the finale piece in the Book.
Please Note: the photo attached below, is the proposed cover design for my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”, created by my niece Kerri Costello – Philadelphia.



Epilogue. My Cloudy Vision

I am trying to write myself a Mission Statement 
Feels like a speech I need to practice in the basement 
I have never been good at making speeches 
They are messy, like eating mushy peaches 

When I first began writing poetry 
My main aim was to teach myself to read and write again 
Several years ago, I suffered a Stroke 
Times become tough, depression drowned this bloke 

Poetry became a form of self-therapy 
I listened to music and inspirational lyrics 
Leonard Cohen’s songs were always playing 
I fervently keep writing 

My life became centered inside a small sphere 
While also caring for my lovely wife, her MS was severe 
Writing was my retreat, a place of solace 
My world was narrow, I was skating on thin ice 

Ten years ago, my wife did pass 
My heart turned to water on glass 
Then I heard Leonard singing again 
His music and words were not in vain 

I resumed drafting my poems 
Grieving, words were sad and solemn 
Healing takes time 
Soulfully I wrote more rhyme 

I joined local writers’ groups 
My words were out there, under readers boots 
On a prompt, I started a website six years ago 
My confidence grew, I came in from the snow 

Wondering what my goal is, where do I go 
There are many answers, I do not know 
In the future, I believe a poetry book or two 
I have volumes of poems waiting in the queue 

This is my story 
My life’s journey 
Of cloudy visions 
My words, my mission 







Ivor Steven (c) October 2023

A Torn Thesaurus

I went to the Geelong Writers monthly social meeting at the Box Office Cafe this evening … I am back home, It’s 10.30pm, I’m tired, my computer is “duck muck” again, so I thought I would a reblog of this ‘appropriate’ poem before I hit the sack



A Torn Thesaurus



With my fiddle and riddles

Here in the middle

Of this unopened universe

Time spirals in reverse


Quills fly in from cyberspace

As alien words unravel and interlace

A torn thesaurus is my database

I wonder

Have I landed in the right place?


But that does not matter

K-9’s happy with the community chatter

Doggie treats and friendly pats

And he presents his paw for more

Like a hungry beggar’s cap






Ivor Steven (c) July 2022