Life – Page 5 – Ivor.Plumber/Poet

Creative Geelong, “Market Day, and the Untethered Gallery”

Yesterday was the Creative Geelong Market Day, which allowed me to inspect the newly opened “Untethered Gallery”, also a part of the Geelong Creative’s Makers Hub.

“I’ll let my photos tell the story”

Firstly, at the Market, I enjoyed a friendly and successful day. My “Poem, Lucky Dip Bucket” was again very popular, and I also sold some of my “Books”

Secondly, I strolled 20 paces down the Arcade to visit the impressive newly opened “Untethered Gallery”, a truly outstanding venue for the Creative Geelong Makers Hub. The photos are of the Gallery and the Creative Geelong artist’s wonderful exhibits

All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >> Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

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) August 2024

Throwback Friday, Black Snow Thaws In The Winter Sun (Revised)

Today my ‘Throwback Friday’ poem, is from June 2019, and again, as is my way, I have slightly revised the original piece.

Black Snow Thaws In The Winter Sun (Revised)

I’ve no more secret words of sorrow
Only old lines I’ve borrowed
I found them in a poet’s dusty booklet
The pages were tattered, like Grandma’s cookbook
Hidden in the family’s sacred cabinet
Faded words that now appear outdated
Years of love and dreams relegated
Stored away, but prudently not wasted

My road ahead is now cleared of black snow
The night is not always dark, you know?

All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >> Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

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) August 2024

What would you change about modern society? – My Answer

The Daily WordPress prompt from three days ago was
—————————————————————————

What would you change about modern society?

—————————————————————————

What would you change about modern society? – My Answer

Get rid of the modern

Go back to being a society

Without materialism

All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >> Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

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) July 2024

Reeling in Reality (a Senryu)

Reeling in Reality (a Senryu)

Disillusioned

Beyond my unopened shells

There are no oysters

All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >> Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

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) July 2024

Throwback Friday, Knots On Blue Paper Lines

This week’s Throwback Friday poem has been hidden away for five years and is not in any of my published books. I originally wrote the piece in August 2019 and “as is my way” I have revised the poem for today’s article.

Knots On Blue Paper Lines

Eyelids are heavy and tired
Overcome by the dazzle of razzle
My palms are open but empty
Anxiously yearning to turn another page

This mind of mine feels worn and torn
Time is constantly tick-tocking away
Chiming between today and tomorrow
While the poet’s pen is scrawling
Knots on blue paper lines
Hanging them out, to dry and die

My arms are quietly fluttering
Searching for yesterday’s wings
As I meander through my journey
Pondering how much reality stings

“I think the lyrics of the ‘Airbourne Toxic Event’s’, song below, are profoundly outstanding and well worth reading as you listen to the tune.”

All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >> Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

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) July 2024

Throwback Friday, Arriving and Leaving, Visiting Her

Featured Collage Above: the photos were taken by Derrick Knight, and kindly with his permission, he allows me to reproduce them here in collaboration with my poems. >> https://derrickjknight.com/2023/03/12/a-frantic-baaing/

Hi, dear readers and followers, the Book Launch of “Until Eyes Hear Sound” is next Wednesday, and today’s poem “Arriving and Leaving, Visiting Her” was selected by Robbie Cheadle as her favourite poem in her wonderful review of my book …
https://writingtoberead.com/2024/04/17/treasuring-poetry-meet-prolific-poet-ivor-steven-and-a-review-poetry-poetrycommunity-treasuringpoetry/
“My April Treasuring Poetry guest is the talented and prolific poet, Ivor Steven. Please enjoy his thoughts about poetry and some of his favourite poems.”

Arriving and Leaving, Visiting Her (page 102)

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

Ivor Steven (c) July 2024

Resting?

Resting?

Why rest?
Dawn is here again
Another new day
For my persistent pen

Why Rest?
From every moment
A second emerges**
Time has no opponent

Why rest?
The Age of Aquarius
Has been and gone
And the edge of beyond
Is no longer precarious

** From every moment
a second emerges** … Borrowed from Robert Okaji’s poem, “Flame” out of his Chapbook, “From Every Moment A Second”
>> https://robertokaji.com/2017/11/21/flame/

All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >> Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

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) July 2024

Nuzzling and Guzzling (a Novem)

Frankie sleeping on my feet … Frankie waiting … Frankie guzzling coffee

A ‘novem’ is a poem format consisting of four-syllable, three-word tercets in which the positioning of the disyllabic word is different on each line.

All gone! … a dry plate

Nuzzling and Guzzling (a Novem)

(Night)

…..He lies asleep
…..There, cozy warm
…..Upon my feet

(Morning)

……….He waits calmly
……….For breakfast and
……….Walkies to come

(Afternoon)

……………He has coffee
……………To guzzle up
……………Licking it dry

(Sweets) … an extra stanza, just for fun!

He Loves Cheesecake
The crusty bit
Under the sponge

All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >> Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

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 direct for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) June 2024

One Day, Not Too Far Away

Over at Weekly Prompts, their Monthly Challenge is to include the words; OneDay … please visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here

One Day, Not Too Far Away

Now, is the beginning
Of my flightless journey

The airwaves taunt me
I hear the wind call

“aim high, beyond the sky,
one day you will fly”

I Shuffle my feet
And spread
My featherless wings

Flap, flap, nothing!
My ankles are anchored

Mother Nature smiles at me
“today, is not your turn to fly”

“you have time on your side
now, is not the moment to say goodbye”

Until Eyes Hear Sound: is NOW Available From,

Lulu Books: Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

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