Am I in hibernation?
Or am I lacking inclination?
Am I awake and living?
Or just lying here dreaming?
Why do I dream so much?
Visions feel alive to touch
Half awake I scribble these notes
Half asleep, am I falsely afloat?
On my mystical Noah’s Ark
Have I the right to ask?
Who’s rowing my boat in the dark?
Is it her, my brave Joan of Ark?
Ivor Steven (c) August 2020
Hello readers, this morning I’m attending an on-line seminar, via a ‘Zoom’ group link-up, of 10 people. The theme of the session is, “Explore writing as a tool for self reflection”. for many years now, I’ve been collecting my written thoughts and comments in my notebook files, and posting them on my site as “Tit Bits”, so in conjunction with my seminar (soon), I’m re-presenting “Tit Bit #15”, from Sept 2018….
“I’ve not written one these for a while, and I’ve enough of my comments stored in my Note-Book file to fill ‘War And Peace’ !! Thank you to all of my dear readers who comment on my writings, I am forever grateful, and may you all continue to inspire me to write these short poetry pieces about your marvellous posts.”
Tit Bits #15
I used to say, mum was the one
Dad was always there, daddy number one
Carole came along, she was my only one
They’re all gone, I was left with no-one
Myself has become an ultimate one
To you all, I cannot do without everyone
I love sharing my life
I love talking about my wife
Even though I’ve seen so much strife
She wouldn’t have it any other way
She graciously fought on, every day
My story will never explain her everlasting smile
My future is about trying for her, every mile
I know those old photo album feelings
Old memories and dusty dreams
Your heart might miss a beat
They’ll be tears at your feet
You’ll need a comfy seat
Bathe in the images, so sweet
Life’s rotation process is endless
Watermill wheels keep on turning
I’m writing on recycled paper
Word’s from my heart are countless
Morning birds sing, but do not see
By day, I’ll look like a flowering tree
By night, hear my wisdom howl
Like a lonely Tawny Frog-mouth Owl
Beware, there’s more
You’ll be shown the door
By the bolt of Thor
I’ve been inspired by my tour of yesterdays street art in Geelong, and the magnificent mural of Chrissy Amphlett, so here she is, singing with the Divinyls
Ivor Steven (c) September 2018
On the wings of a graceful albatross
My serenity sign’s nurturing calmness
Like a floating cork on the world’s oceans
Gently bobbling eternally and not sinking
Early today, Phillip the friendly penguin and I
Happily kissed our newly created piece of serenity goodbye
And after lunch, when enjoying a cuppa in my courtyard
Phillip excitedly chirped, “Look Richard!”
He’s leaping and smiling, “There on the verandah wall”
Surprisingly we hear a baby ‘serenity-sign’ call
“I’m your new picture of peace and tranquillity”
“A sample from your celestial star’s integrity”
Ivor Steven (c) August 2020
Our 2nd Lockdown/Isolation of 6 weeks started a few days ago, and I’m afraid my anxiety levels did soar…. but I had a little project to do for a friend’s new abode. To make a house name sign, called “Serenity”…. Anyhow when I started, I was feeling quite ordinary, physically weak and shaky, but as I progressed with the project, as the name suggests, ‘serenity’, with each passing day, I was gradually becoming more settled and calmer. this morning after applying the 5th coat of ‘sun yellow’ lettering onto the ‘deep ocean’ colour background, I was happily pleased with my finished piece of craftsmanship. The task was both, enjoyable and relaxing. Then I wrote this little serene poem…. Now I must say the “Serenity” name plaque does look handsome on my verandah wall !!
Serenity, a Sign of the Times
Serenity lives high in the trees
Swims freely in warm seas
Serenity glides on a soft breeze
Hovers among our gentle bees
Serenity’s now a forgotten rhyme
A fading sign of the times
Serenity now adorns my verandah wall
A gathering light, my evening shawl
Ivor Steven (c) August 2020.
locked down and locked up
shut in and shut up
In this garbage virus bin
what is my holy sin
has Judas already been?
where am I going
with my green tambourine
and this broken violin
anyhow, who’s listening?
am I still dreaming
about being a human being?
about falling backwards
where the stars are flying outwards
with thoughts looking upwards
questions I bring
songs I sing
answers live within
every day there’s a new sunrise
every day there’s a new surprise
as I look at every day through fresh eyes
I don’t always see blue skies
I don’t always feel happy and wise
Today I’m a bronze statue in Levis’
And I’ll be satisfied with third prize
Ivor Steven (c) August 2020
My dream was falling backwards
The stars were flying outwards
My thoughts are looking upwards
As I hear the mourning blackbird
He’s singing about a deadly virus attack
And how we’re to overcome this unearthly hazard
“You’re to seek guidance from our masters
The solar rulers have witnessed your disasters”
The sun frowns, and sighs to the moon
We must save the earth from gloom
There’s no need for us to whisper
It’s time to dissolve the covid’s dirty blister
Ivor Steven (c) August 2020.
Hello dear readers, I’ve been writing this poem over the last three days, and I was struggling to obtained any rhythm between thoughts and words, and then I saw a wondrous photo on Derrick Knight’s blog/website this morning, (which is my ‘Featured Image’ above), and his photo of the glorious old oak tree, immediately channelled my thoughts, into that of strength and resilience, and from there, my Title was formed, and my words started to become a more cohesive piece of poetry…. Thank you Derrick, for allowing me to use this beautiful and impressive photo, with my humble little poem.
Standing Upright
My heart’s bruised from bygone blood-stones
Threaded together by the spirits of old bones
And they’re resting within my ageing body’s soft clay
But I’m leaking, soulful droplets on sunny days
The world’s foul winds are blowing me off my feet
When I’m wobbling down cold and dusty streets
Then a modern medicine-man came with his young tribe
Re-tuning my rusty pieces, with rhythmical vibes
And they declared my cello strings, to be plucky enough
To handle tomorrow’s mystery masks and travellers handcuffs
Ivor Steven (c) August 2020
Here I stand
On my land
I’m the man
With a grand plan
Aiming for a longer lifespan
Maybe I’ll out live Tarzan
Even the abominable snowman
I’ll hop on a TV van
Become an honest anchorman
With his winter tan
The escapee of a lifetime ban
And I’ll turn into superman
Ivor Steven (c) July 2020
Cake Crumbs and Coffee Stains
I’m at this cafe table, alone
My notebook page is blank
Except for cake crumbs and coffee stains
The cafe venue is not full
Because with the current laws, there’s a Quota
A maximum of only thirty people
I feel for the young owners
Trying to run a small business
Under these necessary restrictions
There’s the mandatory sign-in and hand sanitising
As the voracious covid’s dirty paws
Attack untethered and unannounced
Waiting your turn, is a normal process
Patrons have become more civil and patient
And unbothered I casually scribble these words
Between the cake crumbs and coffee stains
Ivor Steven (c) July 2020
Hello dear readers, yesterday I wrote this Haiku for Beth ( ididnthavemyglasseson.wordpress.com ) about ‘Ponds’….
“A dragonfly Pond
Mirror’s the hot summer sky
Natures gallery ” … and this morning (Sunday) I was reading the 8 Haiku’s I had written over the last 8 weeks, and in my mind they seemed to be following a theme… Then I decided to format them into one piece/poem… so here is my ‘Lake’ of words…..
A Collection of Ponds Turns Into a Lake
Peaceful is the dawn
Morning frost is hovering
Sunshine cuts the ice
A dragonfly Pond
Mirror’s the cold winter sky
Natures gallery
Soft winter sunshine
The sky’s raining blue diamonds
Warms my fragile heart
Are we hand in hand
With hearts joined, ready to start
A new wisdom age
Are we the drowned ones
Laying beside our beached whales
Unable to breathe
Cold steel’s not power
Love can’t be an iron fist
Hand in hand we breathe
Upon our torn earth
Lets sit around the camp fire
One circle of sand
On and on we go
We the mighty do venture
Above and beyond
Featured Image above; Taken by my Canadian Auntie, of the Barrier Lake in Alberta.
Ivor Steven (c) July 2020
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 