‘Between the Lines’, Published at Free Verse Revolution Magazine, Issue III, ‘hestia’

Many thanks to editor Kristiana for accepting my poem, and for all her hard work in producing this beautiful publication. The publication features the work of many talented poets, and I can’t wait to read my copy!

Issue III: hestia (hearth & home) is now available to download!

The digital download is completely free but if you wish to donate/pay as you feel, you can do so through the Donate tab.

Issue III: hestia (hearth & home) explores what home means to us all through poetry, prose, photography & artwork. Contributors reveal how it feels to belong, how we are defined by people and places and how Hestia’s legacy lives on.

Below, Between The Lines is one of my two contributions to this fabulous magazine




Between the Lines


Do you see, a man walking on water?

Did you see, the refugees bleeding?

Do you read, the missing scriptures?

Did you read, your own family tree?

Do you hear, old angels singing?

Did you hear, the songbirds crying?

Do you feel, the erased eons calling?

Did you feel, the hard rains falling?

Do you know, who is doing the lying?

Did you know, the earth is dying?


List of Contributors: Ken Anderson, Jaya Avendel, Jude Ballard, Enrico Barigazzi, Corrina Board, Constance Bourg, Karan Chambers, Emma Conally-Barklem, Rachel Dickens, Caitlan Docherty, Brianna Flood, Karen E. Fraser, Devereaux Frazier, Rebecca Green, Morgan Hayes, Kevin Hüttenmüller, Laura Jameson, Nameera Anjum Khan, Lamarriv, Richard LeDue, Barbara Leonhard, Lorraine Lewis, Liyona, Dee Li, Charles T. Low, Sarah Beck Mather, Marisela Brazfield, Jennifer McLamb, Emily Mew, Gabriela Marie Milton, Ellie Morfou, Soph Murray, Vanessa Napolitano, Jonathan O’Farrell, Lisa Perkins, T. S. Priest, Victoria Punch, Sunra Rainz, Kristiana Reed, Poppy Revell, Rebecca Rijsdijk, Faye Alexandra Rose, Jasleen Saini, Lara Simpson, Sebastian Nguyet Snow, Ivor Steven, Diana Story, Greta Unetich, Aleksandra Vujisic, Lynn White, Robin Williams, Ingrid Wilson, Howard Young & Lori Zybala.







Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021

Where to Now?

Eugi’s Weekly Prompt – “Connector” – September 23, 2021, click on the link to visit her fabulous site . >> https://amanpan.com/2021/09/23/eugis-weekly-prompt-connector-sept-23-2021/




Where to Now?


Where do they hide? 

When the sea is at full-tide


What lays beyond the sand?

In foreign hands on distant lands 


Their long windy road is untraveled 

With trials of fear yet to be unravelled





Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021

Right or Wrong


My poem today is actually made up of 3 different Haiku, however, as what often happens with my jumbled words and thoughts, the 3 stanzas seemed to fit together to form “one” poem …



Right or Wrong



As we scrape along 

In life, we are often wrong 

Before our swan song 


Are we wrong or right? 

Why do we let the moonlight 

Disappear from sight? 


Gloom enfolds the view 

Gey clouds cover rainbow hues 

Darkness stalks us too 





Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021

Intertwined

“After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on – I have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear – what remains? Nature remains.” ― Walt Whitman


Intertwined


Why are we deaf and blind?

How can we be so silently unkind?

Nature is not our kitchen to be redesign


Mother Earth is our holy shrine

Our one and only protective rind

All we need, is her love intertwined



______________________________________

Featured Image: Forest Garden, Mt Dandenong, Victoria, by Greg Brave

______________________________________




Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021

Splintered Bridges

Bridges of ancient dreams spanned

On the wings of the bridled albatross

Flying over shallow lakes of delta moss


Bridges crossing from here to there

Above the worlds fractured rivers

Meandering from there to here

Connecting lonely bridal hands

Of people from far away lands


Bridges trekked by torn and splintered feet

And blooded by bomb blasted streets





Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021

Worlds Beyond Thoughts


My poem today is made from a list of comments that I have left on fellow ‘Bloggers’ sites, and in order of stanza appearance these are the writers sites for you to visit ..

Bart – https://bartbarkerpoet.com/
Sadje – https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/
Punam – https://paeansunpluggedblog.wordpress.com/
Sadje – https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/

Annette – https://aikalandros.com/
Dwight – https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com/
Michelle~M – https://herwritinghaven.com/
Catxman – https://catxman.wordpress.com/
Mark – https://havocandconsequence.wordpress.com/

Cindy – https://uniquelyfitblog.com/
Carol – https://therapybits.com/
Cassa – https://flickerofthoughts.com/
Windwhisperer – https://wildwindwhisperer.wordpress.com/



Worlds Beyond Thoughts



Laws are merely guide lines

For the arrows of love to climb

Mirror mirror on the wall 

Recalls our joys and falls 

Behind every mask there is a weathered face 

Behind every face old lines survive in place 

Behind every place memories live with grace 

Evil eyes lurk in veiled skies


The wisdom of native ancestors should be listened to

And not be lost to the modern ways this arrogant world

The way of modern progress

Is to leave nature shamefully undressed

Nature and renewal walk down the garden path hand in hand

I hear church bells ring 

I see the mouses die 

And the clouds always cry

Keep the cup full, turn the power on

And the answer will come   


Like a big jigsaw puzzle

Not all the pieces will fit back

And overall the world will look the same

I cannot dwell on what has been 

While I feel my blade of grass is alive and green

Above and beyond the crusty dirt 

The universe is a symphonic concert

They say that the truth hurts

Beware of cold desserts


.. 




Ivor Steven (c) September 14th 2021

The Path (a Senryu)

Featured Image Above: A photo by Derrick Knight, and a sincere thank you to Derrick for allowing me to use his wonderful photos along my poems. You can visit his site via this link >> https://derrickjknight.com/2021/09/05/greener-graveyard-grass/



The Path (a Senryu)


His tired empty heart

Travels a lonely path 

In a dusty cart





Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021

Some Time Now



Some Time Now


Today’s anniversary is fouty five yeas

A marriage of happy smiles, then sad tears

Our color is both red and sapphire blue

Representing the depth and stability of you


Anniversaries, they come, and they go

Some time now since that final May snow

Anniversaries, my soul does not let them pass

Some time now, I reminisce the last


Anniversaries, none ever forgotten

Some time now since your everlasting smile was taken

Anniversaries, over coral and every colour

Some time now since your tidal wave of valour


Anniversaries, when love grew stronger

Some time now since the years became longer

Anniversaries, covered by, love, suffering and pain

Some time now since our river flooded with rain

Your troubles fell, with an Autumn leaf

Forever enshrined, our promises of belief





Ivor Steven (c) September 10th 2021