Category: Photos

Flute (Ro)

Today’s piece was inspired after reading Robert Okaji’s wonderful poem “Ro”, please go and visit his fantastic poetry site by clicking on this link >> https://robertokaji.com/2022/11/11/ro-5/

Note: Ro designates the fingering required to produce a particular note on the shakuhachi, the traditional Japanese bamboo flute. In this case, closing all holes.

Feature Image Above: With the kind permission of Robert Okaji, the image was copied from his post “Ro”


Flute (Ro)


the melody lingers

beyond soft fingers


above the hollow

a note was borrowed

by the former mentor


you are not the lamenter

please return

to the aspiring sender






Ivor Steven (c) November 2022

Were Her Eyes Olive or Hazel?



Following my loss

During the chaos

In the quiet intermissions

Tears would blur my visions


But clearness of sight did not even matter

Whether or not she had olive or hazel eyes

The closing curtain was already in tatters


I heard her eyes laugh, I felt them cry

And then I saw them die








Ivor Steven (c) November 2022

Will the Doves Ever Be Free?

A big thank you to Dale, for who I wrote a 16 word poem/comment on her site
>> https://adelectablelife.com/2022/11/05/weekend-writing-prompt-284-rule/ …
which later on, inspired to me to create this poem and music/video combination.

Featured Image Above: My photo of the guest bedroom wall, from when I was staying at my cousin’s (Maureen) place, in Philadelphia, May 2019


Will the Doves Ever Be Free?




Sunday morning

The bells are petitioning

For more than a King’s Ransom




Sunday’s doves are loudly singing

Their unceasing

And unfinished Anthem




Beyond Sunday’s unanswered sessions

The bells will not stop resounding

The Chimes of Freedom





Ivor Steven (c) November 2022

Beyond the Sky


Today I have been proofreading my copy of “Perceptions”, and to break-up the tedious task of proofreading, I wrote this metaphorical poem about reading the book.


Beyond the Sky


Today I traveled to the stars

And touched the outer limits

Of the universe’s Milky Way

There, I opened a magical storybook

That had traversed the mysteries

Of my bedazzled mind



There, my unraveled visions were impelled

By a strong solar storm

Originating in the Atlantic Ocean

From beyond the windswept Isle of Wight

Then finally, my distant dreams

Cautiously touched down

On the curiously tranquil waters

Of Geelong’s windswept Corio Bay








Ivor Steven (c) November 2022

Throwback Friday, Ripples of Inconsiderateness, by Ivor Steven

I have copied and pasted my article from “Go Dog Go Cafe’s” Throwback Friday segment … I’m afraid my computer has the ‘go-slow hic-ups’ tonight …

Here I am presenting a poem I wote in November 2019, which is in my book Tullawala, on page 23.

Ripples of Inconsiderateness (Tullawalla, page23)

Today, an arctic wind blow’s

I have winter socks on my toes

Spring’s forgotten to fill our garden barrow

Cold rains are still falling on the meadows

And on the ranges, there is new snow

Here, the ripples on the bay steeply grow

Shoreline sands are stinging airborne ammo

Our midday sun, did fail to show

Like a ship’s stowaway hiding in the cargo

He’ll be found warming himself in Moscow

It’s time to unload our winter crossbow

Give summer a turn to be the star of the show





Ivor Steven (c) November 2022

Tullawalla #30, Miles From Home

Hello dear readers and followers, I am pleased to announce that I have managed to produce my “Thirtieth Tullawalla” Booklet … For new readers that don’t know about these booklets, they are basically the reason why I write poetry. I produce these ‘home-printed’ booklets for the sole purpose of raising funds for my favourite charity organisation, the MS Society, in Australia via the MS Charity Shop here in Geelong. And actually all money’s I receive for any of my poetry .via, submissions, I donate to the MS Society…. I’m proud to announce, that the sale of my “Tullawalla Booklets”, have now gone pass $1500.00, … to all the lovely readers, who have donated, to help achieve such a wonderful amount, a big heartfelt thank you, from “us” and the MS Society … …..Incredibly, there is now a total of “1303 poems”, Yep, over “A Thirteen Hundred Poems” in my collection/series of “30” Tullawalla Booklets. After 3 months, this booklet is finally completed, and ready for sale now !! As always, they are available for purchase, either as a hard copy ‘Booklet’, or a PDF format….. All proceeds go to the MS Charity Shop, here in Geelong West….. Please contact me here through my website page and I can chat to you about arrangements from there…. Oh, the booklet is called “Tullawalla, Miles From Home”… And here is the link to my website >> https://ivors20.wordpress.com



Miles From Home 

Now

He gives me that inquisitive stare 

“Don’t look at me like that 

I know mate, I know 

I should never have left the wife”


Today 

I went left, instead of right 

No matter what direction 

Or decision I choose 

At the end of day 

There will be night 

My time to rest  

And remain out of sight 


Tonight 

I will sleep under the stars 

With my loyal companion 

By my side


Tomorrow 

I shall take the backroads 

Miles away from my troubled life 

Miles and miles 

Beyond those days of strife 








Ivor Steven (c) November 2022