Category: Poems

Throwback Friday, Within Us

I am entering the last five days of my journey to Canada and appropriately I have chosen “Within Us” as my Throwback Friday poem. This nostalgic piece also appears in my book “Tullawalla”, Chapter 6, page 98.

Remembering our 49th wedding anniversary, Carole

.

.

Within Us

.

The oceans wave us goodbye.
Sand and sea, one beach.
Like the surfs white crest.
Love is, within our lonely breasts.

The lands push us apart.
Alps and plains, one realm.
Like a rivers rocky cascade.
Love is, a turbulent escapade,

The sky opens us up.
Dawn and dusk, one sun.
Like the moons daytime eclipse.
Love is, a hidden apocalypse.

The universe covers us complete.
Stars and planets, one creation.
Like the distant Milky Way.
Love is, within us to stay.

.

.

Ivor Steven (c) September 10th 2025

Aspiring to Spiral Higher

Today we drove to downtown Victoria

There were many inspiring spires

We had lunch at the Flying Otter Restaurant

Victoria’s Inner Harbour area

The shopping mall and my purchase at Russell Books

My photos of some fascinating street art murals

.

Aspiring to Spiral Higher

.

Higher than the hovering bees,
I am gazing beyond the towering trees.

Wondering:
Does all that sky ever feel at ease
Hanging above our polluted seas?

Wandering,
Through life on blended knees,
I am like yesterday’s mountain breeze-
Aspiring to spiral around the big freeze.

.

.

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2025

A Kite in Flight

Island View Beach and kites, with my wonderful cousins, Lynn, Mungo, Robin, and Kelly

On the Island View Beach and kites

Deer in my cousins yard

Kites in flight

.

A Kite in Flight

.

Serendipity is overwhelming my soul
I am tripping the lights fantastic
From cloud nine to cloud nine
My feet have not touched the ground
I am living a surreal dream that has come true

I am an untethered kite in flight
Free as a bird, enjoying all the wondrous sights
I am in a land full of kind hearts
And breathing in all the light that surrounds me
I have reached the stars of my universe
But wait, there will be more from beyond to this verse

.

.

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2025

From the Mountains to the Sea

A Picnic in the Rocky’s

Leaving Salmon Arm

On the outskirts of Vancouver heading towards the Ferry

The ferry from Vancouver to Sidney (Vancouver Island)

.

From the Mountains to the Sea

.

I am gradually drifting down
From out of the mountains smoky shroud
Toward the seaside playground
To rejoin a welcoming crowd

Where around the magical island
There will be more stories unfold
As time quickly filters through my hand
But these precious moments will be all molded
Into poetic lines, written in charcoal and gold

.

.

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2025

Up Among the Embers

The smoky Rocky’s on the way back to Vancouver, and Frankie waiting at the front door for my sister-in-law to come from work.

.

Up Among the Embers

.

Climbing higher and higher
Riser after blackened riser
Hovering above the forest fire
In the middle of this smoky mire

Here, beside her charred pyre
Listening to her hallelujah choir

.

.

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2025

Throwback Friday, Quietly I Exist

Today’s Throwback Friday Poem appears in my revised edition of “Tullawalla”, July 2022, and was originally written as a travel log piece about my overseas journey to, America, Philadelphia, in May 2019.

.

Quietly I Exist

.

I’m writing words from the edge of time

And pondering my life’s lack of rhyme

Thinking every moment is an ironic crime

And quietly, I exist only in mime

.

Life is a mountain of ups and downs

Sharp thorns and slippery crowns

For me, every moment is a good day

Behind me, I leave yesterday

And today I’ll by-pass midday

On my way to bathing in tomorrow’s sun-rays

.

We are not here to control nature

But we are responsible for her future

I don’t think humans are meant to be

Poisoning the sea with plastic and mercury

.

I cannot be the king of this stagnant world

But I am free as my wings unfurled

My eyes have been opened again

To reveal the sky, sunshine and rain

.

Now I see beyond every yellow door

There was once an original world

So, I’ll turn the latch to discover more

And give realities of life a whirl

.

.

.

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2025

Fallen Ancestors

.

Fallen Ancestors

.

Above
I saw time drift across the sky
Below
I heard a grey waterlogged tree cry
“Is this the graveyard where my
fallen ancestors have been left to die”

There
“Against the sea wall’s merciless granite crown
surrounded by cold water crashing around
Please
“Take my hand, guide me down
so I can cover them with my green nightgown

.

.

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2025