Category: Weekly Prompts

Five Shades of Grey (Revised)

This weekend the Word/Photo Challenge for the monthly Colour Challenge, and for February the colour is Grey! (gray)… If you wish to join in the fun, go over and visit the Weekly Prompt’s site, by clicking >> Here

Today, I’ve attached two photos of our friendly grey marsupials, the Kangaroo’s and Koala’s. I’m afraid most of our marsupials have suffered massive losses during the horrendous bushfires this summer…..but I’m happy to report that most of the fire affected areas, have received significant amounts of rain today……and so my revised poem “Five Shades of Grey” is suitably appropriate for today’s welcome weather conditions…..

 

Five Shades of Grey

 

Daylight turns into night

Ravens scatter in mid-flight

Dark clouds overlay

Into five shades of grey

Thor’s hammer roars

His spark of fire, soars

Fiercely a flaming bolt strike’s

Piercing frightened psyches

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Jan 2020

What Is Your Name

The midweek Word/Photo Challenge is on the concept of HOME CRAFTS. Please go over and visit their fabulous site, “Weekly Prompts”, by clicking >> HERE

Today I have chosen my recent home hobby, of growing succulents in pots, and below is my interesting abstract poem, “What Is Your Name”…. Here-in lies my problem, I do not know any of their names… So below, I have number the plants 1. to 10.  , and if there is any keen gardeners out there, that know their succulents, I would really appreciate your feedback…..starting with the plant in the featured image above….

Plant 1.                                               Plant 2.

Plant 3.                                                Plant 4.

Plant 5.                                             Plant 6.

 

Plant 7.                                              Plant 8.

Plant 9.                                                                          Plant 10.

 

 

What Is Your Name 

 

Oh, my darling young one

Your skin, so silky smooth

Oh, what is your name

Your pastel tones, so divine

Oh, will you stand here beside me

Your internal beauty captures my heart

Oh, my house is your home

Your eternal life, would grow and blossom

Oh, will my nurturing expose your soft soul

Your exquisite flower, a lovers reward

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Jan 2020

Poppy-Kettle

This weekend the Word/Photo Challenge is ‘Unusual‘. And today I went down to the beautiful Geelong waterfront for a picnic lunch and a walk around the picturesque foreshore, and afterwards, sitting at the Valhalla Bar, sipping on a beer or two, I wrote this attached poem, about the ‘unusual’ Poppy-Kettle display  Please go and visit the “Weekly Prompt” by clicking >> HERE

Poppy-Kettle

 

My lost week has fallen into Sunday

And I’m going out to enjoy the clear sunshine

The Geelong skyline is finally smoke free

Our Corio Bay is unusually dead-calm

The water is like a glassy blue mirror

As I stroll along grassy banks of the foreshore

I rest myself upon a big quartz rock

Under the shade of a palm tree

 

A perfect locale to have my picnic lunch

Sitting next to an intriguing Poppy-Kettle display

Miniature bronze statues for everyone to see

A children’s mystical piece of fantasy land

Nearby there’s also a fairy tale’s giant green dragon

Dragons are a mythical favourite of mine

The area has an aura of a child’s magical kingdom

And my dreamy imagination grasps me to be almost there

 

 

 

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Jan 2020

Something New

The First Challenge of 2020 is Something New

From today the Word Prompts and Photo Challenges will cease to be separate. They have merged the twice-weekly challenges and given each of them the new combined title of Word/Photo Challenge. Please go visit their exciting new Format, by clicking on .>>HERE

Something New

 

I’m at that age, I don’t need material things

Too old for men’s fashion earrings

No more swanky clothes or fancy shoes

And I don’t like trendy blue and red tattoos

I’m now alone, and live a simple life

You could balance my belongs on a kitchen knife

These days I store myself in a computer cloud

Photos, music and my poems, of which I’m proud

 

Today’s six days after Christmas

But I’m still expecting undelivered business

An annual package from Philadelphia

That’s probably been misplaced by festive hysteria

Then I spot a parcel in the letterbox

Which I excitedly unwrap,, a glorious card and socks

Not just plain socks, but a sporty printed pair

Teary, I read the card, and my heart yearns to be there

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Jan 2020

Love Surrounds Every Tree

The final photo challenge of the year “Weekly Prompts is: The Tree!  Please go and visit their fabulous by clicking >> Here

Love Surrounds Every Tree.

 

In Geelong we’ve a fancy Christmas tree

Floating on Corio Bay, for everyone to see

The Tree’s alight every night

Full of electric candles, shining bright

Also there’s a Tree at our council park

However he’s looking slightly stark

And here, under my verandah, I’ve a little Tree

Standing below our Tullawalla sign, for all the family to see

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Dec 2019

It Was Time To Leave

This weekend the photo challenge on Weekly Prompts is: Clock the Time. I’ve chosen an older poem, so I only have to copy and paste. Be sure to visit the fabulous Weekly Prompts site by clicking >>HERE

It Was Time To Leave

 

It’s time to tidy up my mess

Clean up the room and get dressed

It’s time to pack my suitcase

Fill the travel bag and vacate this place

It’s time to put on my famous rocker shoes

And walk away from this dream so true

It’s time to say heartfelt goodbyes

To these wonderful Philadelphia guys

It’s time for final hugs and kisses

Sad farewells and best wishes

It’s time for my usual emotional tears

Separate myself from these every day cheers

It’s time to flyaway from a land of Dragons and fairies

Leave this magical world of faraway families

It’s time to say a million thank you’s

For making my stay a Really Real great do

It’s time for me to travel back home

With glorious memories of this mystical thunder dome

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019

Odd Photos

This weekend’s Photo Challenge on Weekly Prompts is, Not The Norm! And over the last few weeks, I’ve taken some rather odd photos, that are “Not The Norm” , of every day life here in Geelong…. Click >>Here, to visit ‘The Weekly Prompts’ fabulous site

A hail-storm at the Box Office Cafe yesterday, and Chris and his dog Lily, looking worried

At the Box Office Cafe again, the two photos are of the framed pictures hanging up in the toilets. The next photo is of some wall art, in the back patio area….All unusual, to say the least

Geelong’s CBD, has numerous works of street art, down the back lane-ways

Another piece of street. And then I was visiting the Valhalla Bar (Yes the same place I go to for one my poetry recital nights) for refreshments, and I took this photo…. apparently his name is Westie, and he has a hole in the front of the bucket to have a drink… very odd….

On the way home I needed a bite to eat, and wow ! a Philadelphia Cheesesteak in the main street of Geelong…. Now I’m home, trying on my new shirt from Kuala Lumpur, a gift handed to me Thursday, by my dear pen-friend from Malaysia, a beautiful shirt, certainly “Not The Norm”, to be chatting to her, cheek to cheek, and truly a lovely day, we spent together ………..

Oddly, I’ve not yet posted this Leonard Cohen, song and video clip…. enjoy……

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019

 

Flame and Sorrow

Here is my article, in response to, this weekend’s,  Weekly Prompts Challenge, to the Colour Challenge FLAME! …. I’ve selected a song by Icelandic band ‘Solstafir’ for the topic “Flame”…. After you’ve watched the video, you will understand why I chose Solstafir’s song Lagnaetti, which translates to ‘Low Night’….. Below I’ve attached the translated lyrics, and the fascinating music/video of ‘Solsafir’s’, Lagnaetti… I do hope the readers enjoy this interesting piece, and the finale Flame

The English translation to the lyrics of “Lagnaetti” a song by Solstafir
Versions:
Where are you now? I can’t find you here.
I sit by your side; there’s no heat.
But everything must pass on, death’s last custom.
I hurt and betrayed you in my ugly game.
The price is so high with the heart at a doorway.
The bitter feeling of hate, myself always tormented.
In the cruel clutches of death, the sorrow hewed at the string.
Already miss you and call you my love.
I try to stand up straight, but I know I’ll end alone.
Because the black hatred in the heart is our Lord,
The supply of life has fallen into a coma.
Given up completely, the struggle died, now I crawl on my knees.
On a knife’s blade dancing wobbly and sore.
Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019

 

 

My Book Covers

 This weekend the Photo Challenge, on Weekly Prompts is, Cover. Today I’m experimenting and trying something completely different for me. I will be attempting to produce a “Video Book Cover”…… For my readers that might not know, the third anniversary of Leonard Cohen’s passing, is on the 7th of November, and appropriately, I’m posting this article as a tribute to Leonard Cohen…. The Book Cover photos, are of the Leonard Cohen books I have in my collection here in my writers haven…..The video is short piece that I’ve created, that goes for 28 seconds, and to play the video click on the arrow in the bottom left of the frame. .. . …however despite the small duration, I am ecstatic with the final outcome of my Book –Cover

 

img364 (2)

 

Below, I’m attaching a very recent music/video of Leonard Cohen’s brilliant poem, “Happens to The Heart”, his lyrics are superb and the visual effect of the video is definitely stunning……

 

Ivor Steven (c)  October 2019