I had enough wooden letters, some leftover pieces of timber, glue, white semi-gloss paint, and assorted cans of spray paint colours.
The Project; to design and build a stand-alone large bookend for my “Poetry Book” shelf.
Result; My bookend/stand looks colourfully handsome, and sturdy.
Ivor Steven (c) March 31st 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
Over at Weekly Prompts, the Colour Challenge for January is: Purple . Please visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here
Please Note: All attached photos of ‘me’, were taken by, ‘my best friend’
My Lounge Suite (a Haiku), Written by, Frankie
Come sit beside me
Scratch my ear, and shake my paw
My home is your home
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
Today’s Throwback poem was written when I was on a tour in China, and here we were in Beijing, at an ancient family home (500 years old) being entertained by the lady of the house playing traditional Chinese music on her antique Guzheng instrument.
“Zither”, was the winning Haiku in a Haiku competition run by Vita Brevis Poetry Magazine, in November 2018
Nov 2, 2018. Editor, Brian Geiger. For those of you who didn’t know, I hosted an October haiku contest a couple weeks ago. I’m happy to reveal our winner: Submitted by Ivor Steven. Zither
Zither (a Haiku)
Chinese courtyard sounds
Guzheng music gently strums
Beijing alley hums
Ivor Steven (c) January 2024
Featured Image Above: The 63 Degrees Cafe, which is across the road from the Box Office Cafe
A happy Frankie, and the little Finch … The Book Bird message.
The New Year is Near (a Tanka)
I’m across the road
At a different cafe
It is New Year’s Eve
Today the Box Office closed
Early for the holiday
Ivor Steven (c) December/January 2023/2024
December, it’s that time of the year for the release of Anthologies, and here is another annual Anthology that my poems have been published in. This Anthology has been produced and published by the Belmont Page Writers Group (Geelong) and superbly edited by our convener, Claudia Collins.
“A Fortunate Man” is the second poem of mine that was published in this year’s fabulously presented Anthology.
Ivor Steven (c) December 2023
Hello dear readers and followers, many of you know that I have recently been diagnosed with having diabetes, and lately my general tiredness is becoming exhausting … and regretfully I will not be actively blogging with my normal enthusiastic zest … My recovery is a steady and slow process and I definitely need a break from my extremely busy blogging programs … hopefully I will be able to resume ‘soonerer than laterer’ …
I Slither Forward
Today, I am moving slowly
Slower than Steve the Snail
Slithering over the morning dew
For every slippery slide forward
There are two shuffles back
Improvement is at a standstill
Impatience is hard to pacify
I am swaying like a rusty gate
Creaking and groaning in a lazy breeze
But I am steadily swinging into the gear
And step by step, I shall find my way
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) November 2023
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
Hello dear readers and followers, I now write for “Coffee House Writers” magazine on a fortnightly basis, and my poem “What Happened to Motherland”, is in this week’s edition of Coffee House Writers Magazine. … please click on the link below to read my poem, at Coffee House Writers >>
https://coffeehousewriters.com/what-happened-to-motherland/
Ivor Steven (c) June 2022
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 