No Bouquets

Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #81 photo prompt.

Image credit: Victoria Strukovskaya @ Unsplash
The image shows a closed wooden gate with the number 28.5 written on it with chalk. The gate is surrounded by thick green creepers.

No Bouquets


The twenty eighth of May

The final day to escape Bombay

Leave behind the encroaching Doomsday

Breakaway the padlocked doorways

And seek unknown purified airways


Time to invest wisely in tomorrow’s causeway

Time to invent a new realistic screenplay

That includes the universe’s cabaret

And comprehends mother nature’s ways





Ivor Steven (c) May 2021

My Women

Today is my mother’s birthday, and tomorrow is mothersday, and also it was Carole’s funeral day … Here is my tribute to those 2 magnificent women in my life…

My Women


After I had left the hem

Without women

I could not have survived my time

I would not have braved the climb

Ladies you are my rhyme

My mothers of thyme


Helping me roll away the stone

Maintaining these old bones

Repairing the bridges, I have burnt

Reciting the messages, I have learnt

Cheering from the sidelines

Supporting my broken designs

Women of my rhymes

Mothers for a lifetime





Ivor Steven (c) May 2021

Seeds of Survival

Life is a journey of discovery

An ordained roller coaster ride

Of tall crests and deep valleys

And if we knew what our voyage would be

We would not venture beyond the cabin door

And sail the world’s unpredictable oceans

Those stormy swallowing vortexes

Of tall tsunami’s and deep ravines


But our passage of life is accepted

Even though our destiny is unknown and unexpected

Nevertheless we persevere and regenerate

For we are the universe’s eternal seeds

The seeds that continue to fly

The seeds that spiritually survive





Ivor Steven (c) May 2021

Rivers Flow By

I find the tears never stop, they just have longer dry spells between the showers……..
“How many rivers of tears must we cry
Before all our deepest wells run dry” … Ivor, May 2012

Rivers Flow By


I sit and watch the rivers flow by

I gaze up and see the clouds roll away

I feel the sun’s warmth is within me to stay

I know my heartbeat is hers every day


I sit and watch the rivers flow by

I look above and see today’s clear blue sky





Ivor Steven (c) May 2021

These Days

Here comes one of those days

When my soul feels the light of hope within me

How could I ever forget those days

*Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me*

 

Now I bless the light

The spirit of those days within me

Forever your star of hope, glows so bright

Always there, shining down on me

 

Now I thank you for these days

The dance of glory you gave me

Remembering our world’s warm nights and joyful days

How could I forget, that blade of grass you gave me

That everlasting gift, walks with me every day

You’re in my heart every single day, believe me

 

*Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me* This line, is a line I’ve taken from the Ray Davies song “Days”, they are truly glorious words, and I could not write a better line to suit my poem, than this brilliant piece by Ray Davies….. so now sit back and enjoy his magnificent song…. “Days”

Ivor Steven (c) May 2020

I Await Another Night


A cold frosty morning accompanies me in bed

I’m shaking and anxious about the day ahead

A day in May, when emptiness is a void I dread

The cool stillness and loneliness is surreal

The passageway to my light is dark and hard to feel

If only I knew that light at the end of the tunnel was real

In a dream of fading light, dawn disappears out of sight

And today’s trivial realities await another night





Ivor Steven (c) May 2021

Who is Watching?

Today is not the end of the world … but 9 years ago today, my wife, Carole did pass away … “Let’s give love one more chance”

A special thank you to “Bushboy” for kindly allowing me to use his photos, as my Featured photos today, and here is a link to his fabulous site >> The flying penguin and others – bushboys world



Who is Watching?


Are the clouds clearing?

Are the stars shining brighter?

Is the man on the moon smiling wider?


Today the sunlight is more radiant

The universe is more observant

Is the world more united?





Ivor Steven (c) May 2021

Pink Moon


Beyond the shimmering sand

And a comforting hand

A gracious spirit is in command


Wandering along life’s deviations

Are not treasonous reactions

A change of mindset to the left of centre

May create a mystical adventure


Tonight there shines a super-moon

Bring a bowl, cream, and spoon

And share in the sweetness of pink moonbeams

That revive lost souls and sanction forgotten dreams





Ivor Steven (c) April 2021

Chromatic Pulse

Today I visited the “The Hue and Cry collective” art exhibition, with paintings by 3 talented local Geelong artists, Jenna Kernaghan, Daniel Hunt, and Nelson Ruler. The theme of the exhibition was “Chromatic Phenomenon”, and the Lowercase Poetry members were encouraged to go along and be inspired to write an Ekphrastic poem about the paintings… I have attached some photos of paintings, and my resultant poem …






Chromatic Pulse




words are emotions

the emotions of love and pain

words are eye-drops

the eye-drops of sunshine and rain

words are blood

the blood in oceans and drains


words are aromas

the aromas of flowers and grains

words are watered sand

the watered sand of trees and plains

words are dreams

the dreams in stars and heavenly gains





Ivor Steven (c) April 2021