Between The Lines

Hello dear readers, I’m not sure what I was trying to say in my poem here, “Between The Lines”. The words were a quick response to a Prompt, from Pattimouse >> ‘Erase the lines’ https://pattimouse.wordpress.com/2019/11/07/day-7-prompts/ and I’ve basically left the words the same. I suppose they are questions and thoughts that were tumbling around in my mind at that time, and here they are !!

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, hard rain falling?

Did you feel, the erased lines calling?

Do you know, who is doing the lying?

Did you Know, the earth is dying?

Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2019

Odd Photos

This weekend’s Photo Challenge on Weekly Prompts is, Not The Norm! And over the last few weeks, I’ve taken some rather odd photos, that are “Not The Norm” , of every day life here in Geelong…. Click >>Here, to visit ‘The Weekly Prompts’ fabulous site

A hail-storm at the Box Office Cafe yesterday, and Chris and his dog Lily, looking worried

At the Box Office Cafe again, the two photos are of the framed pictures hanging up in the toilets. The next photo is of some wall art, in the back patio area….All unusual, to say the least

Geelong’s CBD, has numerous works of street art, down the back lane-ways

Another piece of street. And then I was visiting the Valhalla Bar (Yes the same place I go to for one my poetry recital nights) for refreshments, and I took this photo…. apparently his name is Westie, and he has a hole in the front of the bucket to have a drink… very odd….

On the way home I needed a bite to eat, and wow ! a Philadelphia Cheesesteak in the main street of Geelong…. Now I’m home, trying on my new shirt from Kuala Lumpur, a gift handed to me Thursday, by my dear pen-friend from Malaysia, a beautiful shirt, certainly “Not The Norm”, to be chatting to her, cheek to cheek, and truly a lovely day, we spent together ………..

Oddly, I’ve not yet posted this Leonard Cohen, song and video clip…. enjoy……

Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2019

Violin Strings (Revised)

Today’s poem, is a piece I originally wrote in June 2017, and the words were influenced by Leonard Cohen’s song, “Show Me The Place”, and this being the 3rd anniversary of his passing, I thought it an appropriated week to re-post my poem. I’ve slightly revised the poem, but overall the meaning of my words have stayed intact.. The Featured Image above, is scanned copy from, “The Wordless Songbook, Leonard Cohen, by George A. Walker, page/113, (A book, in my personal library)

Violin Strings

I’m singing a song, about you

Singing words, both wistful and true

From my heart to my soul, the veins

They’re as tight as violin strings

I needed you, to take my hand

Take my hand and show me the way

Show me the way, to a formal debut

Show me the way, into your dancing shoes

I needed you, to take my dreams

Take my dreams and show me how to behave

Show me the way, to your family home

Show me how to drink, from your holy grail

I needed you, to take my open heart

Take my heart and show me how to pray

Show me the way, into your world

Show me how to fly, in your milky-way

I needed you, to write some heavenly notes

Take my violin and show me how to play

Show me the way, to your harp’s wings

Show me the way, into your tunes

But in the end, you took my heartstrings

Then you burnt my soulful lines

Melting my broken violin

Into unplayable, twisted strings

A Singer Must Die

Three years ago

On that day

I cried

I cannot forget

The death of a ladies man

When he found his, sisters of mercy

On this day, hallelujah

I now, fondly remember

By the rivers dark

In the land of plenty

Our, Field Commander Cohen

Singing from above, in his, Tower of Song

And below, I’ve attach the entire music/video of the ‘Leonard Cohen Memorial Concert’ from, Centre Bell, Montreal, QC, Canada | November 6, 2017. The video goes for 1 hour and 30 minutes, and is certainly well worth watching. Enjoy !!

Ivor Steven (c) Nov 7th 2019

Tea Leaf’s

Tea Leaf’s (Revised)

It’s early morn, time to break away

From last night’s, dream-time soiree

But first, I must make my bed

“Yes, just like Mum said”

Oh, I gratefully do remember

As I straighten the quilt cover

And I like to fluff-up my pillows

Ready for an evening’s bout, with stupid cupid’s arrows

I’ve a long, storage bedhead shelf

However I’m smiling, satisfied within myself

It’s always untidy and in disarray

And last nights scribbles are all on display

I gather up this multitude of loose words

The mess of my midnight songbirds

Snippets of my subconscious memories

Pieces of forgotten wistful dreams

And I begin to decode my jumbled site

Then emotionally, I start to rewrite

About the tea-leaf’s, floating on a calm sea

Forming love letters, from her to me

Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2019

Tullawalla # 13

Hello dear readers and followers, again I must apologise for not being on WordPress and blogging with my normal zest…. I’ve been arduously preparing and typing up my Thirteenth Tullawalla Poetry Booklet…..I’ve been lucky enough to have a wet weekend, which gave me enough time to prepare the booklet. For new readers that don’t know about these booklets, they are basically the reason why I write poetry. I produce the booklets for the sole purpose of raising funds for my favourite charity organization, 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 submissions, I also donate to the MS Society…..Amazingly, there is a total of “533 poems”, in my collection of 13 Tullawalla Booklets. Anyhow the booklet is finally completed, and as always, they are available for purchase, either as a hard copy or a PDF format….. All proceeds go to the MS Charity Shop, here in Geelong West….. Please contact me here through my web site page and I can chat about arrangements from there…. Oh, the booklet is called “Tullawalla: Waterlogged Boots”, and coincidently, my poem “Waterlogged Boots”, was published at ‘FREE VERSE REVOLUTION’ today >> visit there site >> https://freeverserevolution.wordpress.com …. And here is the link to my website >> ivors20.wordpress.com

Of course my song selection here, is going to be a Leonard Cohen classic, and I’m picking his song “Anthem”……. yes, let us all ring the bells……. “7th Nov 2016″……

“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in” …. Leonard Cohen, from his song , Anthem, 1992….

Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2019

Flame and Sorrow

Here is my article, in response to, this weekend’s, Weekly Prompts Challenge, to the Colour Challenge FLAME! …. I’ve selected a song by Icelandic band ‘Solstafir’ for the topic “Flame”…. After you’ve watched the video, you will understand why I chose Solstafir’s song Lagnaetti, which translates to ‘Low Night’….. Below I’ve attached the translated lyrics, and the fascinating music/video of ‘Solsafir’s’, Lagnaetti… I do hope the readers enjoy this interesting piece, and the finale Flame

The English translation to the lyrics of “Lagnaetti” a song by Solstafir

Versions:

Where are you now? I can’t find you here.

I sit by your side; there’s no heat.

But everything must pass on, death’s last custom.

I hurt and betrayed you in my ugly game.

The price is so high with the heart at a doorway.

The bitter feeling of hate, myself always tormented.

In the cruel clutches of death, the sorrow hewed at the string.

Already miss you and call you my love.

I try to stand up straight, but I know I’ll end alone.

Because the black hatred in the heart is our Lord,

The supply of life has fallen into a coma.

Given up completely, the struggle died, now I crawl on my knees.

On a knife’s blade dancing wobbly and sore.

Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2019

Let It Rain

Let It Rain

Rain’s thudding on the verandah, loud and hard

Fat drops are flooding my courtyard

The deluge’s symphony has been playing all night

And the grey cloud dawn, needs assistance from my porch light

The welcomed downpour, is coolly refreshing

My garden ferns and flowers are happily dancing

Although the noise of pelting rain

Has my morning music’s hum, being drowned

As leaves and cascading waters, gurgle down the drain

I listen a legend singing, with passion about the rain

Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2019

Knowing You

Hello dear readers, here I am again with another one of these personal love poems, that I’ve been posting recently,… . from a time, when I had a new lady in my life. I thought maybe it’s about time I presented these pieces from my archives. The relationship finished four years ago, so I thought that enough time has lapsed, for me to now show you, another side/story of my life….

Knowing You

I know our time, has only been a few weeks

But our future, seems so much longer

I know our journey, has just begun

But our path, seems so easy to follow

I know our nature, is to be cautious

But our fears, seem to be vague

I know our past pains, are real

But our honesty, seems so pure

I know exchanged words, are free

But our souls, seem to know the truth

Ivor Steven (c) October 2019

Tanka: Moon Tree

The midweek Word Prompt over on Weekly Prompts, is Halloween! . Today I’m posting my first try at writing a, Tanka, Please click >> Here, to visit “Weekly Prompts” fabulous site…

Tanka: Moon Tree

No! Don’t go up there

The old tree house is haunted

Full moon night, glares

Children’s Halloween costumes

Knock! Knock! Scary pranks, for treats

Ivor Steven (c) October 2019