A Book Fair

This weekend over on Weekly Prompts, the weekend challenge is; Surface. Please go and visit the Weekly Prompts fabulous site by clicking >> HERE     Below is my take on the prompt, Surface, with photos and my poem ‘A Book Fair’….

 

A Book Fair

 

trestle table after table

there’s rows and rows

of second-hand books

on the surface

the books appear worn

but inside their dusty covers

that untold story awaits

a magical gem for eager eyes

youngsters hungry for a fantasy tale

adults search for a mystery unseen

and hidden underneath their old surfaces

the printed word still astounds

there on display in the town’s historical hall

treasures yet to be discovered still abound

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Feb 2020

How Many Grails In the Sky’s Sails

I’m on my plumber’s ladder

scaling rung after rung

climbing higher and higher

upwards, to the sun

seeking a holy grail

(is there more than one?)

hovering in a sky full of sails

waiting, to revive our resurrection

hold on to your heart now

hold on to your soul

don’t let the world bring you down

and leave you cold      …

Ivor Steven (c) Feb 2020

A Star Of Hope

This morning I entered my garden

My own personal Eden

And softly caressed hope **

The star of my night’s telescope

 

The night sky

Cries goodbye

My star above

Cries for love

Our universe sings

On my angel’s wings

 

I dream of flying

My inspiration to keep trying

Come what may

Of nature’s ways

On wet or dry hay

Us lovers did play

 

Under a happy blue sky

After swimming the bay

And crossing a dying stream

I held onto our dream

In a field of flowering yellow

I heard our song on a cello

 

** Featured Image above: A photo of my Philodendron selloum, called “Hope”

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Feb 2020

 

A Rapunzel Tomato Tower

 

 

A Rapunzel Tomato Tower

 

The morning autumn dew

settles upon your evolving view

climbing tall and reaching up high

your leaves are almost touching the sky

protecting the day lily now replete

and the ruby geranium at your feet

your large groups of yellow flowers

producing bunches of fruit on your Rapunzel tower

growing into red grape-like flights

delicious, mouth watering bites

bunches of cherry tomato eats

the season’s meal-time treats

 

 

 

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Feb 2020

“Soon We’ll Be Found”, Lyrics by, Sia.

Come along it is the break of day
Surely now, you’ll have some things to say
It’s not the time for telling tales on meSo come along, it won’t be long
‘Til we return happy
Shut your eyes, there are no lies
In this world we call sleep
Let’s desert this day of hurt
Tomorrow we’ll be free

Let’s not fight I’m tired can’t we just sleep tonight?
Turn away it’s just there’s nothing left here to say
Turn around I know we’re lost but soon we’ll be found

Well it’s been rough but we’ll be just fine
We’ll work it out yeah we’ll survive
You mustn’t let a few bad times dictate

So come along, it won’t be long
‘Til we return happy
Shut your eyes, there are no lies
In this world we call sleep
Let’s desert this day of hurt
Tomorrow we’ll be free

Let’s not fight I’m tired can’t we just sleep tonight?
Turn away it’s just there’s nothing left here to say
Turn around I know we’re lost but soon we’ll be found

Let’s not fight I’m tired can’t we just sleep tonight?
Don’t turn away it’s just there’s nothing left here to say
Turn around I know we’re lost but soon we’ll be found

Let’s not fight I’m tired can’t we just sleep tonight?
Turn away it’s just there’s nothing left here to say
Turn around I know we’re lost but soon we’ll be found

I know we’re lost but soon we’ll be found [3x]

Day Lily, Love and Another Year

.

The above photos, are of mine & dad’s, colourful and spectacular Day Lily, which is now in full bloom. Personally this plant is the King of my garden, and he was originally my dad’s pride and joy, and I rescued the Day Lily from my parents homestead in Ocean Grove, (“Tullawalla”), and of course I enjoy a strong spiritual connection with this lovely flower, especially this time of the year, as the Day Lily blooms to coincide with the anniversary of my dad’s birthday, eleven days ago…..

 

Day Lily, Love and Another Year

 

Upon my pillow I sleep.

Good morning, I do peek.

From the cushion of my dreams.

To my yard’s radiating beams.

Of blushing red hues, oh so bright.

You flower during the night.

And after cuddling the dew.

You open up your scenic view.

Blooming, standing proud and steep.

Vivid perfection at my feet.

A glorious Lily, like wings of a dove.

And by day you air your love.

Ivor Steven (c) Feb 2020

The Cracks Are Muddy

This weekend’s Weekly Prompt challenge is: ‘Celebration‘. Well here in Geelong, Victoria, we’re celebrating the fabulous downpour of much needed rain, from yesterday and last night. Please go over and visit the fabulous “Weekly Prompts” site by clicking >>HERE

The Cracks Are Muddy

 

The storm clouds are weeping

And I’m loudly smiling

The sky’s tears are heavy and fat

And I’m cheerily eyeing the muddy crack

 

That dry chasm’s filling fast

And I’m hoping the deluge will last

Drowning the ground, day into night

As I dance under Thor’s neon lights

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Feb 2020

The Good, The Bad & The Poetry, by Joshua Maxwell de Hoog

Please note, that in the poem below , the words are not mine, but those of, ‘Joshua Maxwell de Hoog’, who has kindly given me permission to reproduce this excerpt from his book “The Good, The Bad & The Poetry”. Joshua is the convener, of the ‘lowercase poetry’ recital events here in Geelong. I’m honoured to be able to present his words on my site, and this piece below, is an excellent example of the style of his writings. For more information and stories about Joshua you may Google his link >>  joshuamaxwell de hoog.com

*

There is no word greater than another,

 

No word that only sleeps with the

king or is only spoken by the servant,

Or written on walls in the city by

rebellious teens

 

There is no word that fights in a war

with only fists,

 

Or sails the sea for love, or with love,

There is no word greater than the

mouth that speaks it.

 

There is no word more beautiful than

another,

 

There is no word that is paid to be

listened to, nor begs for attention, or

only cries, or only sleeps, or cries

itself to sleep.

 

There is no word more beautiful than

the mouth that speaks it.

 

There are merely words, and every

one of them as important as both the

next and the last, as pressing as

future, present and past, as human as

you, me or us.

 

And we too,

Are like words,

Sometimes we are together and seem

as if we’ve always been,

As inseparable as to-do or have-been

joined by the dash,

But other times we are distant, we

appear only in the beginning or the

end, or something in between, but

that means no less of us, for we are

still a part of the story, as essential as

any word that has already been

written or the ones that are still in

writing.

 

There is no word that goes unspoken,

that needs to be.

 

All things will happen in time, and to

force them, is to skip the most exciting

chapter.

There is no word that runs faster than

another, none that overtake or jump

the queue, all words honour the mind

in which they are from.

 

There is no word greater than another,

yet I will follow “you”.

*

*  Printed with permission from, Joshua Maxwell de Hoog…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Feb 2020

Melody & Poetry

Here’s a poem I’ve written for ‘Go Dog Go Cafe’s’,  Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge. Today’s prompt: Write a story or poem that ends with the phrase “he shredded her dreams in dignified air of victory”

Friday evening I attended my first ever Melody and Poetry event at the Analogue Academy & Gallery. The new and interesting night developed into thoroughly enjoyable show, for both the musicians and poets. The poem I recited was “Lost On The River” , here’s the link >> https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2019/06/30/lost-on-the-river/

Melody and Poetry

 

The Gallery’s been darkened

And the room’s illuminated by faerie lights

The Melody and Poetry event begins

On stage, there’s a piano player and guitarist

Improvising their music, to each poet’s readings

And the enthusiastic crowd sings along

To the sheets of printed words

And the poet’s recital is resonating vividly

As he shredded her dreams

In a dignified air of victory

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Feb 2020

A Red Bouquet

 

A Red Bouquet

 

The dawn sky’s a misty red

Mirroring my eyes, etched edges of red

T’was my dad’s anniversary yesterday

And I didn’t go to visit her, during the day

She adored dad, my darling redhead

So best I vacate this lonely bed

And select her some blooms from my flowerbed

 

My courtyard’s a sea of dazzling reds

A vivacious Begonia, called a Dragon Wing Red

Our gifted Geranium, glows a deep ruby red

And dad’s Day Lily, is a glossy red

I’ll create a bright red bouquet from the three

And place the flowers in our vase under her tree

 

 

Ivor Steven (c) Feb 2020

Tullawalla #15

Tullawalla, Nineteen Steps

Hello dear readers and followers, I’ve been away from blogging for three days, because again, I’ve been arduously  preparing and typing, to produce my Fifteenth Tullawalla Poetry 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. Fantastic news this week, with a few more donations coming in lately, I’m proud to announce, that the sale of my “Tullawalla Booklets”, has now gone well pass $1000. 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 … …..Amazingly, there is now a total of  “613 poems”, in my collection of 15 Tullawalla Booklets. Anyhow the booklet is finally completed, and ready for sale now.. !!  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:  “Nineteen Step”, and coincidently, this, the feature poem from  my the booklet was published by FREE VERSE REVOLUTION, on Friday, 8th, February… You can visit their fabulous magazine today!! Please click on this link >>    https://freeverserevolution.wordpress.com/                …. And here is the link to my website >> ivors20.wordpress.com

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Ivor Steven (c)  Feb 2020