Category: Quote

“Restore Rapport”, is in this week’s Coffee House Writers Magazine edition.

Featured Image Above: Black-and-white photo of a street art mural depicting a tug-of-war between a Russian and Ukrainian soldier on a war memorial in Izyum, Ukraine. (Getty Images photo)




Hello, dear readers and followers. I write for Coffee House Writers magazine (USA) fortnightly, and my poem “Restore Rapport” is in this week’s edition.
Written in the quiet hours of early morning, Restore Rapport is a poetic protest against the machinery of war and the silence that surrounds it. Inspired by the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, this piece asks: Where is the understanding? What are innocent lives being sacrificed for?


“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” — Einstein

To read the poem, please click the link below to visit my Coffee House Writers Magazine article.
>> https://coffeehousewriters.com/restore-rapport/








.


Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)



Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)



Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books


OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com … and I can send you a PayPal account,
for the Book, plus Postage.


Ivor Steven ©  November 2025

Today’s Screenplay, or, Reggae and Crochet


“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” ~ Robert Frost




Today’s Screenplay, or, Reggae and Crochet



Needing a manuscript breakaway
Talking with the crows at midday
Was a positive and relaxing way
To invigorate my book’s soporific survey

Wishing for a secretary or “Girl Friday”
Then I could sit back and replay
More “Bob Marley” reggae
Or even try my hand at crochet








Ivor Steven (c) October 2025

In a World of Doubt


“Beliefs are what divide people. Doubt unites them.” ~ Peter Ustinov



In a World of Doubt


To the left of where I sit,
I see a bright red strip
flash across the night sky.
In disbelief, I rub my weary eyes.

I do not panic, or feel fear,
as my vision slowly becomes clear.
I perceive my angel’s lake of tears
has entered my atmosphere.

Awakened, I valiantly swim out,
and try to save my world of doubt.







Ivor Steven (c) October 2025

There is a Better Way (a Tanka)


“Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson




There is a Better Way (a Tanka)


The sun and the moon
Respectfully share the sky
All the birds I know
Fly by harmoniously
Why can’t we learn nature’s ways?






Ivor Steven (c) October 2025

Wind and Light


“May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face, and the winds of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.” ~ George Jung




Wind and Light


I cannot perceive the speed of light,
but I can feel its energy –
gently touch my skin.

I cannot see today’s cold gusts,
but I can hear nature’s wind —
boldly sting my eyes.

Between light and wind,
I know who is the fastest.
But I wonder: who is the strongest?






.


Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)



Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)



Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books


OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com


Ivor Steven ©  October 2025

Not Perfect, But Valuable

“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.”
– Alice Walker


Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word; Watch … to visit their fabulous click on >> Here
My poem below was prompted by Watching the tree’s different shaped trunks and roots



Not Perfect, But Valuable



My roots are splayed and distorted
But I am not disabled
My trunk is grey and twisted
But I am alive and growing


My branches are soft and frail
But I am mentally and physically
Strong enough to reach for the sky
And propagate my life-giving leaves


“The true meaning of life
is to plant trees,
under whose shade
you do not expect to sit” … Nelson Henderson











All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm



Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)



Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)



Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books




OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) November 2024

Throwback Friday, Patiently, I Am Waiting

A poem I wrote in April 2021, about waiting for the Publisher to do the edit corrections and have my “new” book (Tullawalla) printed and look the way I wanted it to be!



Patiently, I Am Waiting

Patience drifts around the clock
Patience floats in dry-dock
Patience hovers in transit
Patience belies my spirit

Patiently I walk
Patiently I talk
Patiently I listen
Patiently I have forgiven

Patience is the essence
Patience is my sentence
Patience is my burden
Patience is my warden

Patiently I wait
Patiently I update
Patiently I sleep
And alone I weep

Patiently I Compromise
Patiently I will arise
Patiently I reactivate
Patiently I will gravitate
Patience commands my time
Patience is my crime



https://youtube.com/watch?v=YMNEozyzpZI%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26fs%3D1%26hl%3Den%26autohide%3D2%26wmode%3Dtransparent









All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)


Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)


Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books


OR: >> You may email me direct for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) June 2024

Cold Feet





Cold Feet


I wandered outside
the evening air
was damp and cold
and the moon was sharing
the dappled midnight sky
with dark satiny clouds

forlornly I looked up
and quizzically asked the moon
“I have failed
my words were drowned in the hail
I’m poor and unbound
all I have is muddy ground
who listens anyhow?
where do I go now?”

do not fret my friend
“as Confucius said,
It does not matter how slowly you go
as long as you do not stop
and that old Japanese Proverb
Fall down seven times, stand up eight “

I wandered back inside
the desk lantern was still burning
I reopened my torn notebook
and begun writing again







Until Eyes Hear Sound: is NOW Available From,


Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven/until-eyes-hear-sound/paperback/product-jeev886.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/product-page/until-eyes-hear-sound

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/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com



Ivor Steven (c) May 2024

Nominated for Spillwords Author Of The Month April



AUTHOR OF THE MONTH


Only One Day Of Voting to Go!

Dear Readers and Followers,

I am thrilled to announce my nomination for Spillwords Author of the Month! This is an immense honour, and I am truly humbled, both by the support I have received from the Spillwords Editorial Team over the years, and of course from everyone who reads and shows appreciation for my words.

All of the writers nominated are hugely talented, and I offer my congratulations to every one of them on their nominations!

If you wish to show your support by voting, you can visit this Spillwords Link >>https://spillwords.com/vote/  

THE NOMINEES ARE:

Ash Douglas
Emma Wells
Ian Fletcher
Ivor Steven
RC Larlham
Ximena Escobar
Lindsay Soberano Wilson




Why Do We Write? (a Quote)


“The world caresses our eyes 
every day until we die. 
We write to arouse idle minds 
and soothe hearts with our soulful finds” … Ivor Steven, Oct 2023.





Ivor …
a Leonard Cohen song for the occasion



https://youtube.com/watch?v=bVsYz5rB8Bw%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26fs%3D1%26hl%3Den%26autohide%3D2%26wmode%3Dtransparent




Ivor Steven (c) April 2024

A Positive Outcome 

“Every negative event contains within it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” ~ Napoleon Hill 


 


A Positive Outcome 


 
 
 
Saturday morning  

At the Creative’s Market 

All is cosy and quiet  

Under the venues skylight roof  

And I calmly wait for patrons  

To enter the welcoming arcade  


The attendance was sporadic  

But I enjoyed several amiable chats 

And they gratefully accepted. my poetry/website card 

Then, glowingly, I sold a “Tullawalla” book 








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/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com  


Ivor Steven (c) November 2023