Frankie proof-reading “Until Eyes Hear Sound”… After, reading is tiring
“The Proof is in the Pudding”
“Woof, woof, posties at the front door”
Yeah! The proof copy has arrived
And intuitively, Frankie knows
This new book is important
And especially precious to me
As I place the book between his paws
So he can carefully turn the pages
And diligently do a proof-read for me
“Woof, woof, your poems are easy to read”
Ivor Steven (c) February 2024
Going back in my files I discovered that I have “2” poems titled “Birds On Wires”. The First one is from July 2020 and the Second piece is from March 2023, so I decided to post both Poems … maybe you can let me know which one is your favourite.
Birds On Wires, (July 2020, which appears in “Until Eyes Hear Sound” page 12)
Here on the edge of lower earth
Beyond the urban concrete girth
Withering trees are trying to grow
Reaching for that mystical power flow
Hungering for energy from contaminated ground
Not the airwaves of false sonic sound
Man-made arrows cluttering the sky
Unnatural webs soaring high
Bird snatching wires
Hanging on cold steal spires
Carriers of these modern times
The pulse of humanities crimes
Birds On Wires (March 2023)
Weary gray clouds
Lay anchored in the sky
Moist air hangs breathless
Not a wisp to disperse the flies
An anxious sweaty dampness
Clings to everything
Birds on wires sit motionless
Waiting for a thermal updraft
To lift spirits beyond this world of smallness
Where greed and wars seem senseless
And remain the leader’s primary craft
“Until Eyes Hear Sound”, Due out March 21st
Ivor Steven (c) February 2024
Over at Weekly Prompts, the Wednesday Challenge is the word: Scary. You can visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here. Below my poem is a “Scary” metaphorical anti-war Tanka.
Midas-Touched Lands (a Tanka)
Sunset’s golden eye
Cries saffron spice seeds worldwide
Hard drops of yellow
Spreading beyond Eastern skies
Clouding those Midas-touched lands
Ivor Steven (c) February 2024
The butterflies were everywhere
A Butterfly Parade
I was admiring the view
Along Nature’s Avenue
When I stumbled upon
A flickering band of white light
A wondrous silky cloud
Of fluttering butterflies
They were everywhere
Unflaggingly flying
Hither and thither
A quivering milky river
The sunshine’s zither kisser
Wings humming a choral melody
A pearly parade, poised, ready to deliver
Ivor Steven (c) February 2024
Alex Steven (Dad), February 5th 1924 – July 3rd 2015
Under a Clear Blue Sky, I’m Thinking of You
(Happy Birthday Dad)
Oine hundred years ago
When the summer sun
Rose for you
Did the midday moon?
Shine on you too
Ivor Steven (c) February 5th 2024
Early July 2017, my blog/website was only 3 weeks old when I wrote this abstract poem, ‘Fruit Loopy’ … hmmm … and I am not sure what my thoughts were at the time … but I had only been in my new little abode for 5 months, and I was finishing off building the verandah, and starting to create a courtyard garden … I suppose I was “dreaming” about how much Carole would have loved my new home, so hence the “funny title”
Fruit Loopy
The juices of expectation
are upon me again.
Dreaming of yesteryear
and clambering for today.
Through my pores
a taste of sweetness.
My apple of love
the fruit for tomorrow.
Vale, Melaine Safka, she was one of kind
Ivor Steven (c) February 2024
How Many?
How many desert wars will we have to foresee?
Before all the armies are drowned by the sea
How many bridges are we to burn?
Before we reach the point of no return
How many children must suffer again and again?
Before humanity learns how to steer the peace train
Ivor Steven (c) February 2024
Today I received a lovely message from Lisa, Editor/Publisher at ‘Prolific Pulse Press’ >> https://www.prolificpulse.com/
Dear Ivor, I love the poem you just sent for Cadence and would love to publish it with the anthology. It truly put a smile on my face.
Of course, I cannot post the poem until after the Anthology has been published in March, but I can tell you that my delightful poem is about “Charlie the Caterpillar shuffling over the track to help his little friend, Billy the Bee
Ivor Steven (c) March 2024
Featured Image Above: The “Lighthouse”, is an illustration by Kerri Costello, which appears in my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound” as the introduction image for Chapter 5, Observations, “Until Eyes Hear Sound”. The book contains 10 intriguing Chapters, and Kerri has graciously presented a creative drawing for each Chapter.
I captured these photos about an hour before sunset, and strangely enough, each photo had a diagonal white sunbeam across the images, prompting me to write the ‘Tanka’ below.
Nature’s Lighthouses (a Tanka)
The dazzling sunlight
Ignites the trees’ timid leaves
Into white lanterns
Nature’s neon lighthouses
Showing us the causeway home
Please Note: The 3 cover designs are by, Kerri Costello
Until Eyes Hear Sound, will be available in March
Tullawalla is Available From
Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com
Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’
AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:
Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c) January 2024
This afternoon, while lazing around at the Cafe
I could feel the world spinning around me
Oh, what a world I did foresee
My photos were taken last night, of Venus and then the Full Moon.
A Mapie begins his flight, a leaf is swinging in the breeze, and Frankie is the centre of my spinning world.
Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is: Chance Please visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here … and yes, we are taking a “Chance” by holding on, every time the world spins and swings around.
A Spinning and Swinging World
the cycle of nature
whirls around
like a spinning top
then slows down
at the equator’s plateau
pausing there
to swing on the world’s axis
either, swaying to the right
or leaning to the left
but always within reach
of life’s balancing point
Please Note: The 3 cover designs are by, Kerri Costello
Until Eyes Hear Sound, will be available in March
Tullawalla is Available From
Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com
Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’
AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:
Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c) January 2024
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 