Afterglow

Put another log on the fire, while I travel to Tasmania with the two Philadelphia girls and three other Aussie cousins … Thursday 27th April – Monday 1st May


Afterglow 
  

 
 
After a frenetic time 

I feel like a burnt-out hollow log 

My charred core is clinging 

Onto nature’s dampened fringes 

Of Autumn leaves and fallen branches 

Where flora stealthily regenerates


 

Steadily, my diminished cavern 

Is growing wider 

And my ambient lantern 

Is glowing brighter 








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) April 2023

Life’s U-turns

Hi dear readers, despite being incredibly busy cleaning house for my Philadelphia cousins and also trying to format my agenda for my book launch on Sunday! … today’s poem was drafted at the ‘Box Office Cafe’ yesterday afternoon and I’ll be reciting it at “Lowercase Poetry’s” open Mic’ event tomorrow evening. The Theme/Prompt for the Poetry Night is “Slow Burn”


Life’s U-turns



The old body is almost awake

Sleep lingers in my eyes

My aching back needs exercise

And creaks like a rusty gate


My doggie looks at me quizzically

He is full of pizzazz and glee

“It’s breakfast time

Forget your memories and rhymes”


I cannot row the boat anymore

These chalky bones are too sore

From the crashes in life’s u-turns

Now, dry wicks for my candle’s slow burn


Don’t worry, today, is not my turn

To join her in the mantle-piece urn






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) April 2023

Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk (a Haiku)

” When life gives you a reason to break down and cry, show life that you have a hundred reasons to smile and laugh.”



Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk (a Haiku)


Breakfast milk is spilt

A silky pool on the floor

The bottle didn’t break








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) April 2023

Deep and Deeper?

The inspiration behind my philosophical poem, came from two fellow blogger’s articles today … please visit their fabulous sites by clicking the links below >
Annette >> https://aikalandros.com/2023/04/02/seeking-2/
Frank >> https://beachwalkreflections.wordpress.com/2023/04/01/183-deep/




Deep and Deeper?




while afloat we keep seeking 

and building boats that keep leaking 

time sails by and we keep weeping


I often wonder how deep

humanity’s knowledge is

yet unseen …

how deep are our oceans

yet unseen …

how deep is the universe

yet unseen …

how deep is humanity’s love

for one another

yet unseen …







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 2023

Dragonfly, Nature’s Guardian Eye

Featured Images: I am thrilled to say that the attached photos are mine, and they are my first-ever successful photographs of Dragonflies …




Dragonfly, Nature’s Guardian Eye




Long before homo sapiens overachievers

You were the swamp’s incorruptible believer

Overseer of the planet’s rivers and valleys

The weary world’s ardent ally


Long before the floundering Ark

You were our wisest Monarch

Overseer of the forest’s unpolluted sky

Nature’s sprightly guardian eye








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://www.amazon.com.au/Perceptions-Ivor-Steven/dp/1387487302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RD27PWFI9JPS&keywords=perceptions+by+ivor+steven&qid=1676894211&s=books&sprefix=Perceptions%2Cstripbooks%2C1174&sr=1-1

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 2023

Arriving and Leaving, Visiting Her

Today I am linking my post to Sadje’s Weekly #Whatdoyousee prompt, please go over and visit her fabulous site by clicking on >> Here

Featured Collage Above: the photos were taken by Derrick Knigkt, and kindly with his permission, he allows me to reproduce them here in collaboration with my poems. Here Below, are the photos before I created the “Canva Collage”





Arriving and Leaving, Visiting Her


arriving

via the cemetery gate

holding her flowers

hands quivering

heart quickens

bowing silently

reminiscing

smiling

wondering why

closing time

and visiting time

co-exist in life


leaving

via the cemetery path

renewing goodbyes

crying silently

breathing slowly

smiling

wondering why

closing time

and visiting time

co-exist in life







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://www.amazon.com.au/Perceptions-Ivor-Steven/dp/1387487302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RD27PWFI9JPS&keywords=perceptions+by+ivor+steven&qid=1676894211&s=books&sprefix=Perceptions%2Cstripbooks%2C1174&sr=1-1

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 2023

A Lonely Echo (a Tanka)




In the deepest time

Of our immense universe

The soulful echo

Of our loneliest heartbeat

Rediscovers the way 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://www.amazon.com.au/Perceptions-Ivor-Steven/dp/1387487302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RD27PWFI9JPS&keywords=perceptions+by+ivor+steven&qid=1676894211&s=books&sprefix=Perceptions%2Cstripbooks%2C1174&sr=1-1

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 2023

A Beetle Called Bertha, is in this week’s Coffee House Writers Magazine

Hello dear readers and followers, I now write for “Coffee House Writers” magazine on a fortnightly basis, and my poem “A Beetle Called Bertha”, is in this week’s edition of Coffee House Writers Magazine. … please click on the link below to view my poem, at Coffee House Writers. >> https://coffeehousewriters.com/a-beetle-called-bertha/









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://www.amazon.com.au/Perceptions-Ivor-Steven/dp/1387487302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RD27PWFI9JPS&keywords=perceptions+by+ivor+steven&qid=1676894211&s=books&sprefix=Perceptions%2Cstripbooks%2C1174&sr=1-1

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 2023

The Odds and Ends, I Send

A poem made up of anecdotes that I have written and sent to my fellow blogger’s sites, as replies to their articles/poems … In order of stanza appearance below,
– V.J. >https://vjknutson.org/
– Kate > https://aroused.blog/
– Beth > https://ididnthavemyglasseson.com/

This week’s Wednesday Challenge on Weekly Prompts is the word: CHANGE … here is the link to their fabulous site >>  https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/02/22/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-change/ … and my poem today is a “Change” from what I normally write …


The Odds and Ends, I send




Our head reaches for the clouds 

But our heart forgets to speak aloud




We are all little fish in a big sea 

Swimming below the atmosphere 

Created by nature’s life giving trees




Not all rocks 

Are not just rocks 

Some old rocks 

When you study their socks 

And listen to their knees knock 

They “Have rocked around the clock”








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://www.amazon.com.au/Perceptions-Ivor-Steven/dp/1387487302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RD27PWFI9JPS&keywords=perceptions+by+ivor+steven&qid=1676894211&s=books&sprefix=Perceptions%2Cstripbooks%2C1174&sr=1-1

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) February 2023

Shadows Fall (a Musette) 




Don’t stop

Do not look back

Leaves drop




Shadows

Do not create

Meadows




Walk tall

Don’t look beyond

Nightfall







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:

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) February 2023