‘Til Death Do Us Part

Back on the 2nd of May 2012, I thought this poem was going to be the last piece I would ever write … finality for my wife was near, and my mind was adrift on the horizon. … little did I know, that in few months time, her spirit and enthusiasm for life, would become the inspirational source for the revival of my poetry writings, and now a decade later “Carole’s” amazing zest for life, still influences my every thought behind the words I write …

‘Til Death Do Us Part


She’s there, in that tall pale building of brick.

Where the Nightingales care and tend to the sick.

She’s there, away from home and her comforting bed.

Where the Doctors try to fix the endless ills from her head.


She’s there, and her absence reminds me of future plights.

Where my anxieties for her her well being endure her fight.

She’s there, and I need to visit her all day, and every night.

Where the distance to reach her soul is out of sight.


She’s there, and I’m wondering about that far away dome.

Where her lost personal affection would leave her all alone.

She’s there, in those misty clouds, with church bells ringing.

Where she’s near to the sombre sounds of angels singing.


She’s there, and her constant pain remains tight in my heart.

Now I’m convinced, just like I said at the very start.

There’s no place like home for her gathering dark.

And I promise to her again, ‘til death do us part.






Ivor Steven (c) May 2nd 2022

Did Your Heart Stop Too?

Ten years ago today, it was the “Time” that I made a “heart stopping decision”


Did Your Heart Stop Too?


Did you cry too?

When the doctors told you

She was not going to recover


Did they ask you too?

About what you already knew

It was time

To flick the switch

And dim her light


Did your heart stop too?

Knowing

You had emptied her shoes


Did you sleep there too?

During those infinite days of blue

Softly holding her hand

And not letting go


Did you weep too?

Blankly alone

In her full room

Waiting

For her last silent breath






Ivor Steven (c) April 27th 2022

Rivers of Love, is up at Spillwords Magazine

I am ecstatic that during this month of personal remembrance for me, to have my special poem/Tanka, “Rivers of Love” published at Spillwords Magazine today, and I am very grateful to the editor Dagmara for accepting my piece .. Pease go and visit my poem at Spillwords and if you wish, leave a 💗 for my article, by clicking on this link >> https://spillwords.com/rivers-of-love/



Rivers Of Love (a Tanka, with an introduction quote)
Written by, Ivor Steven

How many rivers of tears must I cry. Before all the deepest wells run dry”Ivor Steven, May 2012


The hail’s coldness stings
An old wind pierces my eyes
As yesterdays tears
Etch raw ravines in my cheeks
Her rivers of love run deep






Ivor Steven (c) April 2022

A Third Eye is Watching 

Happy 75th birthday to my dear departed wife Carole, and I am also celebrating the 10th anniversary of her passing from this world.
Featured Image above: Is a collage I created from 2 of Derrick Knight’s photographs, and thank you to Derrick, for allowing me to use his photos here in conjunction with my poem. >> https://derrickjknight.com/2022/04/15/swarms-of-moths/



A Third Eye is Watching 


When your emotions begin to flow 

Do your senses amplify and grow? 


Bodily aches and mental strains intensify 

Your flooded brain feels like a third eye 

Wondering why? 

You are paddling knee-high 

In yesterday’s goodbyes 


Today my universe 

Hovers above my verse 

And there is no reason to cry 

While her soul resides high and dry



 




Ivor Steven (c) 17th April 2022

Concrete Void

Originally posted on my site, 27th November 2017.
Yeah .. my concete void has finally been filled ..


Concrete Void


I’m becoming impatient,

Here waiting,

Waiting for a concrete lid.

Too many stop signs,

And lifetime bans.

I’m a good man,

So I’ve been told.

But there’s a chasm,

And the concrete’s,

Yet to fill the void.

……..To my readers that knew about my new verandah, “now nine months old”, and sadly it has been without the patio/floor area being concreted for all that time..  Yippee, today the mission has been accomplished. Thanks to my newly appointed concreter “Damian Maloney”, Yep, he’s on my recommended list. And Lizzy The Lizard Of Wizardry, was curiously looking on…..

20171121_132650






Ivor Steven (c) April 2022

“Where Have All The Good Times Gone”

A few days ago(29th Nov 2017), I had started writing a poem about Penny Farthing Bicycles, prompted by an article in the Geelong Advertiser newspaper, the arrival in Geelong of eight members of the Melbourne Bicycle Club in March 1880, as per featured picture above, courtesy of the Geelong Heritage Centre Collection. Then I was chatting with my friend Jane of Janebasilblog, she had just sent me the song and lyrics of the Mary Hopkin hit, “Those Were The Days”, from 1968, and I mentioned The Kinks were one of my fav’s from that era, and of course their song “Lola”. After our chat, I starting thinking [which is dangerous for me] about writing a crazy, combined, mixed up poem… The piece below is the result of those thoughts, and to my older readers, you’ll notice all the phrases written in Italic, are song titles taken from The Kinks album “The Kinks Collection”. So apologies to Ray Davies for using his song titles in such a manner.

“Where Have All The Good Times Gone”


I remember the olden times

Of pennies and farthings

Pounds and pence

When money made no sense

Mary Hopkins sang

“Those Were The Days”

And the Kinks song “Lola”

Was the best number one ever

Many a lazy Sunny Afternoon

Spent down near Waterloo Sunset

Where we would all dance

All Of The Day And All Of The Night

My Friends would all dress-up

Like Dedicated Followers Of Fashion

Unlike that lonely Plastic Man

Who faked the Death Of A Clown

Way back then, You Really Got Me

You fired me up, here in Victoria

Thousands of Days forgotten in the burn-out

Charred in a cloud of Big Black Smoke

But now, I’m Tired Of Waiting For You

Wondering, Where Have All The Good Times Gone





Ivor Steven (c)

Originally Posted, 29th November 2017.  4.00pm

Circumference

Hello readers, and yes I am still reminiscing about my Pacific Ocean cruise, here is another poem from April 2018 …

Circumference


as far as the eye can see

an endless horizon surrounds me

encircling the dark blue ocean

waving to a pastel aqua sky


I turn to port-side

my tangent shadow follows

I walk to forward

my world is full of rippling white caps

I stand on aft

my view is an edge-less rim

a vast rolling sea

as far as the eye can see


above is our universal dome

lingering clouds of chrome

casually floating by

sunshine appears to fly

changing the Pacific’s hue

cobalt to royal blue






Ivor Steven (c) April 2018

Reading On Deck And Ashore

Another poem from my Pacific Ocean cruise in April 2018. Actually this piece is not on my web/blog site, so I am thrilled to be posting this old poem here today




Reading On Deck And Ashore


I am in a poolside recliner

reading Brendan Ryan’s book

observing fellow passengers

strolling the pool deck

some bustle along

others meander by

gazing around and carefree

they all smile and say Hi

Penelope and her mother Dianne

stop for a chat

we agree, a nice place to sit

meet friends and relax


we are in port at Lifou Island

tenders take us ashore

I have Robert Okaji’s book in hand

to read while laying on pure white sand

the air is warm and humid

a pleasant sea-breeze

caresses my brow

another sunny day on the beach






Ivor Steven (c) April 2022

Cheeky Magpie

Hello readers, over the last few weeks, my blog site has been very hectic, and I have also been kept busy with my commitments at “Go Do Go Cafe”, and “Coffee House Writers” sites. … After sleeping all afternoon, I think I need a break from writing “A Poem A Day” … so today I’m reposting this quaint poem from October 2017.


Cheeky Magpie



A glorious sunny Sunday

Plenty of time for a walk today

Lily prances and plays

“Let’s go now” she says

And of course she talks !!

That’s what we do on our walks

Off to the local countryside cafe

For me, a Brandy & Almond cake and coffee

And you Lily, can quietly sniff around

Wander the shopowner’s grounds

So serene here, sitting on the bower patio

Trees, flowers and birds on show

Then a cheeky Magpie stops by

Lily barks, but cleverly the bird stays high

Atop the coffee-table, crumbs to try

A delicious feast, and off he fly’s

Lily gives him a parting yelp, and we leave

Our pleasant afternoon’s reprieve







Ivor Steven (c) March 2022