Summer Rainclouds


A heavy sky lingering above a thirsty summer, offering a brief, warm whisper of rain.



Summer Rainclouds

The sombre summer clouds
are languishing low overhead.
I can almost touch the greyness –
unfortunately, it’s not raining.

The aura of stillness is unsettling,
and the silence is deafening

But wait – from behind the gloom
I hear Thor’s thunderous roar,
and simultaneously, I see fat drops
warmly splattering on the ground







Ivor Steven ©  February 2026

A stitch in time, or: A rengay

My thanks to David, of “The Skeptic’s Kaddish,” for inviting me into this rengay. It was a pleasure to weave our lines together and watch the threads find their own shape.
>> https://skepticskaddish.com/2026/02/23/a-stitch-in-time-or-a-rengay/



A two-person ‘Rengay’

A stitch in time, or: A rengay

By Ivor and David

1 (db)
weeks before Purim—
sticky glue smears small fingers,
needles pull bright threads

2 (is)
intricate puppet costumes
tangled in the maker’s strings

3 (db)
small gnat in a web
silver threads keep their design—
the body trembles

4 (is)
the wood manikins
loose joints suddenly collapse
first aid kit required

5 (db)
eight waiting legs lose purchase
their radial craft undone

6 (is)
unfashionable 
staples, glue guns, costume pins 
become quick-fix threads





A little Purim mischief to echo the threads and tangled costumes of our rengay.




Ivor Steven ©  February 2026

The Ravens Warning (a Tanka)

Feature Image Above: Created by Copilot and me.


“Ravens fly through the iron‑gate sky, carrying warnings only the attentive will hear.”


The Ravens Warning (a Tanka)

Stealthily they fly,
below the iron‑gate sky—
loud and steely‑eyed.
Ravens warn all passersby:
beware of that sly bad guy.




Under an iron‑gate sky, her voice rises like a warning carried on dark wings




Ivor Steven ©  February 2026



Leftover Heirlooms

Featured Image Above: Created by Copilot and me


Shaped during my quiet breaks at Market Day, inspired by yesterday’s twilight and today’s steady rhythm behind the stall.



Leftover Heirlooms



I’m roaming around
the inner zone of Shadowland,
the heart of twilight’s middle ground.

Inquiringly peering down
upon the sun’s retiring nightgown.

Above her hessian costume,
the fading crescent moon
is also descending into the world’s bedroom.

Again, I am an abandoned groom
from life’s fragmented honeymoon,
here clutching nostalgia’s leftover heirlooms.




After drafting this poem during my quiet breaks at Market Day, Lisa Hannigan’s ‘Oh Undone’ felt like the perfect soundtrack to its twilight reflections.




Ivor Steven ©  February 2026

We’re a Noisy Bunch (a Tanka)

While the café murmured below, the Corellas held their own rowdy morning meeting in the trees above me.




We’re a Noisy Bunch (a Tanka)

I’m one of many
In a flock of two twenty
I’m a Corella
And when we’re all together
We’re a loud bunch of critters



“A chorus of Corellas above the morning hum.”




Ivor Steven ©  February 2026

Throwback Friday, The Mystique (a Musette)

Today’s Throwback Friday poem (originally written in January 2024) is drawn from my upcoming book, Time Hears No Sound. It appears as the second poem in the Musette section of Chapter 10, Time’s Short Poems: Haiku, Tanka, etc.
I find the Musette’s restrictive poetry format to be very challenging
A Musette is,
three verses 
first line – 2 syllables 
second line – 4 syllables 
third line – 2 syllables 
rhyme scheme – a/b/a c/d/c e/f/e 
The title reflects the poem’s content 

The Mystique (a Musette)

Friday
I said to you
“Please stay” 

You said 
“Only one night 
Twin beds” 

Next week
We savoured the
Mystique








.


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 … and I can send you a PayPal account,
for the Book, plus Postage.


Ivor Steven ©  February 2026

Creative Geelong, Fashion-focused Market Day

FASHION WEEK MARKET:

THIS SAT FEB 21st
132 Lt Malop St
Centrepoint Arcade. Geelong
10.00 am – 3.00 pm

Completely protected from the weather under the glass atrium …

Creative Geelong’s next art market on Feb 21 st, will be fashion-focused in conjunction with Melbourne’s Fashion Festival. Along with our wonderful, usual makers, there are over 30 tables.

Handmade, vintage, repurposed, or just clothes and accessories you’ve moved on from, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

MAY’D Shop, Untether Gallery, open studios, and vintage with Yesterday’s Vintage & Pearle Brawne. Check out the COGG food market in the mall to ….





A song stitched with the same handmade spirit as Market Day





Ivor Steven ©  February 2026

Peewee on the Fence Wire


At twilight this evening, a lone peewee settled on the fence line, unexpected company above a paddock split open by summer. The moment felt like a small report from the dry season — so I let the bird speak for itself.




Peewee on the Fence Wire

Here on a weathered fence wire,
in my honorary black-and-white attire,
I am a peewee of a scarecrow
monitoring this broad and dry meadow.

The long, hot summer has created havoc
and left the parched paddock
covered in a maze of deep, dark cracks,
inscribed by the droughts, dusty, black chalk;
and the dirty chasms are as wide as my back.




Their song carries softly across the dry ground — a fitting echo for this moment.




Ivor Steven ©  February 2026

This week’s Coffee House Writers Magazine features my new poem, “Beyond My Outpost.”


Hello, dear readers and followers. I contribute to Coffee House Writers magazine (USA) every second week, and I’m delighted to share that my latest poem, “Beyond My Outpost,” appears in the new issue. You can read it by following the link below.
>> https://coffeehousewriters.com/beyond-my-outpost/






.


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 … and I can send you a PayPal account,
for the Book, plus Postage.


Ivor Steven ©  February 2026

Honoured to Join Ortensia’s Blogger Chat

I’m delighted to share that the wonderful Ortensia has featured me in her February edition of “A Chat Among Bloggers.” It was a joy to sit down with her and talk about writing, life, and the little threads that weave our stories together. My warm thanks to her for the invitation and for the care she brings to this beautiful series.

Ortensia opened the interview with these kind words:
“Good day everyone, it’s ST. Valentine’s weekend and I have the perfect guest for our February chat among bloggers: Ivor… I have been following dear Ivor for years, and he never fails to bring me joy and warmth with his verses so… Sit back, relax and enjoy the chat.”
(Read the full interview on her site — link below)

A Chat Among Bloggers, Episode 8. | Truly Madly Ordinary






And as I did in the interview, I’ll finish here with the same music video: Lisa O’Neill – Come Sit Sing | Live at Other Voices Festival 2013



.


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 … and I can send you a PayPal account,
for the Book, plus Postage.


Ivor Steven ©  February 2026