Category: Music

Yesterday’s Storms

I wrote this poem after reading Ali Grimshaw’s post/poem this morning, and as I sometimes do, I commented on her piece with a poetic anecdote. You can view Ali’s site and poem via clicking on this link >> https://flashlightbatteries.blog/2020/12/05/weather-forecast-poem-by-ali-grimshaw/


Yesterday’s Storms

today words fell off the weatherman’s chart

some misty clouds with rainbow arcs

there will be windy circles and sunny parts

dotted isobars will blow over old landmarks

bringing bold fronts and false starts

with possible heavy rain and lightning darts

and yesterday’s storms were pieces of dark art

that passed through our hearts




Ivor Steven (c) December 2020

The Faerie Shelter



The Faerie Shelter



Beyond the hands of time

In a garden of parsley, sage, and thyme

Live faeries of magic and rhyme

Dancing in the midnight faerie pantomime

Under the moonlight they rollick and roam

Among reeds of the field-mouse’s old home

Where Oscar the owl broods atop his mushroom

And the dragonfly Danielle hovers above Alex the gnome

He is the courtyard’s guardian colossus

Who proudly shelters Saraswati the Hindu goddess

And she dutifully protects the shy penguin Phillip

The humblest faerie of them all, but he stands tall in spirit





Ivor Steven (c) December 2020

Every Ordinary Day

My poem here today was inspired by Colleen’s thoughtful post “Every Ordinary Day”, please click onto this link to read her article >> https://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com/2020/12/01/every-day-ordinary/

Every Ordinary Day

If you look up

There is air and sky

If you look backward

There goes the sunset

If you look forward

Here comes sunrise

If you look sideways

There shines the fullness of day

Look and you will feel

Nature sharing her love

Look and you will hear

Her crescendo of life’s adrenaline




Ivor Steven (c) December 2020

Sharing Every Ordinary Day

Over on Weekly Prompts this week, the Wednesday Challenge is the word Sharing! Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here 
My poem here today was inspired by Colleen’s thoughtful post “Every Ordinary Day”, please click onto this link to read her article >> https://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com/2020/12/01/every-day-ordinary/


Every Ordinary Day

If you look up

There is air and sky

If you look backward

There goes the sunset

If you look forward

Here comes sunrise

If you look sideways

There shines the fullness of day

Look and you will feel

Nature sharing her love

Look and you will hear

Her crescendo of life’s adrenaline




Ivor Steven (c) December 2020

My Addiction

Fact or fiction

Whatever the diction

Words without friction

That is my addiction



Emotions from the heart

My love potion of remarks

From sweaty nightmares of blue sharks

To walking on dreams in Central Park



Words surviving my writing cramps

Evolving beyond sirens and flashing blue lamps

From bygone dreams of empty homes

To climbing a mountain of slippery stones



Ivor Steven (c) December 2020.

The Quill and Self-will


Tired eyes slowly open

The room is blurrily sloping

My lips are numb and dry

And I cannot see the sky



Three weeks I’ve been here

While my body is in recovery

Nurses say I’ll soon be out of this wheelchair

And I’ll be home with community health care



How will I cope I despair

My arm is idle and I cannot weight bear

And my speech is impaired

With a memory drifting in mid-air

I am unable to read or write

And daytime may as well be midnight



Three months have passed by

I am doing a morning crossword and my smile begins to cry

But there is a knowing sparkle in my eye

Upon my notepad I’ve scrawled lines of rhyme awry



Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2020

The Hummingbird Knows

This week the Weekend Challenge from Weekly Prompts is, Snippet. Please go and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> HERE. And below is my little snippet of a poem, in response to the ‘Weekly Prompt’


The Hummingbird Knows

I’m searching for a safe nest

a place for my weary wings to rest

a hostel for the hovering bewildered

above the rainbows where eagles soar

beyond the clouds silver linings

away from the world’s selfish cravings

a symphonic haven for my soul to call home

where the hummingbird knows the words for my poem



Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2020

Giving Thanks


Love lives on and on

In the tune of every birdsong

And friendships warm the soul

Like the sun warms our body



Love lives on and on

Memories and rhymes remain strong

Love is within our heart

Love is there to be shared

Like the blood in our veins

Love is made for transfusions



Love has been there all along

Love advances right over wrong

Love lives within our sins

Love lives within everything




Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2020

Life’s Baggage


Baggage on a rough ocean, rattles

And snaps like a snake dressed in black

However the angry waves will bite back

And drown the leftover sacred battles



Baggage is only a temporary state

Between carrying life’s extra weight

And waiting for life’s next update



Baggage, imagine the stories

Imagine the hidden dreams

Imagine love bursting at the seams


Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2020

Grumpy Bears in Chains


The crashing noise started after midnight

When the growling thunder gave darkness a fright

I was shaken by the storms furious hard rain

Sounding like grumpy bears in chains

Thumping my iron roof with their heavy paws

And lashing at the awnings with their steely claws

Then the giant drops turned into falling ice-blocks

And I rushed back inside to shelter behind the dog box




Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2020