Category: Photos

Trees, We Apologise To Thee

Today I’ve added another Haiku to my piece from yesterday to create a dual Haiku, I hope it doesn’t detract from the heartfelt intentions of my original Haiku, and I’ve also added another piece of glorious music by Ludovico Einaudi.  Thank you Kate, of Calmkate, for the excellent photo prompt

Haiku: Trees, We Apologise To Thee

 

Ancient trees of life

Anoint colour to the sky

Cast shadows aground

 

I, hugging a tree

I, apologise to thee

I, seek mindful peace

 

 

 

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  June 2019

No Pinks, Just Chocolate Cakes

I’ve been nominated for a “Sunshine Blogger Award.”, by Vanessa of,  ‘say no to clowns’, As my followers might know, I don’t usually participate in awards, I suppose I feel embarrassed/overwhelmed, and feel like it’s a burden to other readers, to pass on/be nominated. Anyhow, for Vanessa, here’s my answers to her intriguing questions….Thank you to, >>saynotoclowns

What is definitely not your favourite colour?

Pink, It definitely doesn’t suit me. My mom wanted her second child to be a girl (Me), I was originally dressed in pink for a while, after mom had spent months knitting pink outfits for the new baby (Me)

Do you like cake? If not, why?

I’ve been known to eat whole sponge cakes, in one sitting, especially with pink icing, like I’m trying to devour the pink icing, off the face of the planet…….

Can you live without a Smart phone?

I don’t have a smart phone, just a little Android phone. I suppose I use my phone a lot, but in my health situation, it’s a necessary item. And I’m always jotting down notes/lines in my phone, that I could later use in a poem…….

Do you like cake? If not, why?

Chocolate cake is my favourite……

What are your thoughts on clowns?

I never liked clowns at the circus, they used to scare me, and never thought they were the least bit funny, and they wore terrible make-up !!

One of us had to switch to decaf. Can you guess which one of us?

It wouldn’t be me. I don’t drink a lot of coffee, but I do like going to a cafe for a good coffee, and enjoy a chat with a friend, and soaking up the atmosphere created within the cafe….

 

As Vanessa said in her article, “As for my own nominations…actually, I am going to be bold and just tell you., ‘you have been one of the winners of the award’…and that goes for all of you wonderful people who have enriched my blogging life. Thank you so, so much!”. If you feel inclined, maybe you could answer the above questions that Vanessa,put to me……

 

Cheers

Ivor.

Hallelujah, A Song He Played For Me

 

Hallelujah, A Song He Played For Me (Thanks Terry)

I’m relaxing here in the city square

Enjoying the simple things in life

Eating fresh fruit for lunch

Feeding the local seagulls

Watching people, passing by, going to and fro

Not everyone is stopping to see the show

Listening to my friend playing the blues

At this chilly outdoor venue

There’s others too, lazing on the wet ground

Soaking up his musical sounds

Guitar strumming, and a loud tenor voice

He’s singing Leonard’s Hallelujah, my choice

I’m emotional, but that’s me

Resting here under a winter tree

Gentle drops of rain, drizzle upon the calm

But that doesn’t dampen his enthusiasm or charm

Syd and Shirley seagull stand entranced

And the young ones are starting to dance

Ivor Steven (c) June 2019

It Was On The Tip Of My Tongue

I awoke unexpectedly

Suddenly the mind had kicked in

My cogs were grinding and searching

Seeking that lost memory inside me head

That annoying buzz has been bugging me

Teasing me about that location

That place I couldn’t remember

The name was on the tip of my tongue yesterday*

 

But recalling that name had eluded me

Three o’clock in the morning

My eyes are wide open

Old cloudy visions, are now clearing

Up there, in bright neon lights

Of course, that’s the missing name

And my brain is not dead

Answer solved, back to sleep for my head

 

  • * The name that was on the tip of my tongue was a place in Philadelphia, called the Reading Terminal Market, I’ll attach a Link here
  •  https://readingterminalmarket.org/

 

Iver Steven (c)  June 2019

This Is What Matters

My Thursday evenings, are a boys night out

As usual, we drank and chattered

Opinions on every general topic

No politics nor religion

We talk about important issues

Mainly, travel, music and sports

Lively banter, of who’s who

Any, this and thats

We know what matters

And how to save a world in tatters

 

Then I was asked about my trip

My adventures in New York

And the meeting of my cousins and their families

In the warmth of Philadelphia

Fondly, I mentioned my time there

With cousins Ken, Maureen and Terry

And of course, my special niece, Kerri

I explained how they thoroughly spoilt me

I said “Truly the best time of my life”

Slowly tears welled in my eyes

And my friends, saw the liquid joy in my heart

 

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2019

 

Warm Champagne And Icy Ponds

I stand here, in a rain filled pond

Leaning against the icy wind

Glazed eyes and I shiver

My boots are stuck in the muddy river

Ankle deep, in a chilly slush

Sheet ice numbing my toes

When will they finish my lane

Tired of walking through cold drains

The tadpoles are thriving again

Multiplying with the continual rain

My clothes are wet and stained

Walking beyond the puddles is a strain

These house-bound reins feel like chains

It’s time to defrost my frozen brain

Allow my pen to write within this frigid membrane

And tell the world, about life’s warm champagne

Ivor Steven (c) 2019

Dallas

 

The name Dallas

Hangs proudly under my verandah

The name of our old family house

There’s only us cousins, who are left

We’re unsure as to where Dallas first came from

We do know that Dallas

Was uncle John’s middle name

But where did the name originate

It’s a family mystery to us now

There’s no other mention, anywhere in our family history

And the name has not been used again

The name Dallas, shall now remain

Hanging under my verandah

As a silent memorial to uncle John

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2019