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

 

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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

 

Blue Plastic Tripe

The midweek word prompt on the site Weekly Prompts is Character. And yes I think “It’s Time”, us human’s showed some >> Character….

Blue Plastic Tripe

 

The sun’s filtered warmth

Opens my notebook

And a red wine

Enhances the imagination nook

This Cafe’s quietly humming

Enticing my visions into reality

As my heart beats out a rhyme

Listening to melodic rhythms

And I sing to myself, a worldly question

Have we the character, to repair our transgressions

 

A forest symphony’s chiming, ‘All my leaves are brown’

Touching a sensitive soul, one more time

Forcing my dancing feet, down to the sea line

Where I hear mother earth, singing the blues

And sad mermaids, are playing harps in tune

To the ancient whales, deep moaning sounds

” The ocean now covers me, in plastic tripe”

Are we hearing the lullaby, of his final night

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  October 2019

Not Faux Flowers

In response to, Weekly Photo Prompts…Faux Flowers.  However I don’t have any false flowers, but here I’ve some photos of my “real” winter flowers in my courtyard garden.. Featured Image above: Drooping Violet.

Above Left: Begonia, dragon wing red             Above Right: Geranium, deep red

Above Left: Osteospermum, yellow                 Above Right: Bougainvillea, jazzi

 

The Flower Show

 

A yard full of blooms

The scene, a sea of colour

Flowering perfume

 

Ivor Steven (c)  August 2019

Yes I’ll Be There

Two weeks ago, on Friday 15th I was cleaning out my mailbox, throwing out all those annoying advertising pamphlets, when I happen to notice a little flyer that caught my attention. Yeah ! a book fair to held the next day in the West Geelong Town Hall. I missed  last year’s event, and finding the advertisement was a pleasant surprise…. Yes I did go……….Yes I did buy a few books…. Yes the advertising did work… The Weekly Photo Prompt this week is: Advertising

Below: Some of the Poetry books I did discover and subsequently purchased, and I’m sure they’ll make for interesting reading on my flight over to New York…..

Ivor Steven (c)  2019

My Neighbour Wasn’t Mowing His Lawn

Come join us!

Tuesday Weekly Challenge

March 19, 2019

until Monday, March 25, 2019

Weekly challenge

Weekly Photo Prompt: Featured Image.

Hi dear Helene, I’ve yet to participate in one of your weekly photo prompts, and I found your photo fascinating, and my I wrote this poem for your prompt.

My Neighbour Wasn’t Mowing His Lawn

I saw a sign, painted by His hand

The words, I did not understand

I thought why ? another old brick wall

Ascending the crooked ladder, too afraid to fall

There I stood alone, and stared

Above the galaxy’s glare

My retina’s were burning

Last night’s moon had p

My neighbour wasn’t mowing his lawn

I then saw the universe

Oblivion, in a blade of grass

Ivor Steven (c) 2019

The Golden Beach

I’d like to thank Gina, of Singledust, and her glorious poem, ‘last pure light’, on “Go Dog Go Cafe”, for inspiring me to write my poem, ‘The Golden Beach’, please click >> Here, to read her wonderful words. Also referring to this weeks, Weekly Photo Prompt: Tradition, yes it’s an Australian tradition to spend Christmas at the beach

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Staring over the ripples in my cuppa tea

Gazing at the future forecast by the tea leaf’s

I’m visualising waves upon the morning sea

And the sensation of the sand beneath my feet

 

Oh to walk on the golden beach again

Inhale the fragrance of the wind caressing my skin

And to swim in the rejuvenating ocean

Feel the surf’s spray on my body, like warm rain

 

The tentacles of fresh air draw you in securely

An aura of purity and peace abounds richly

There’s a crispness from the sun that warms your heart

And a cleansing depth within the surrounds that soothes your soul

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

Inside Out

Perspective,

Weekly Word Prompt : This week’s word prompt is : Perspective.

This is an old poem of mine, The poem “Inside Out”, is more just a rhyme and a play on a few featured words. Over the road from were I once lived, there was a furniture shop, and the advertising hoarding was, “Inside Out, Exotic Furniture”, well I was sitting there waiting for the bus, and in my minds imagination, I changed the the words to “Inside-out, Upside-down, Erotic Furniture”, and hence my little anecdote was laid…. with a totally different perspective..

Inside Out

The view of my love seems upside down.

When I’m at the bottom of her flowing gown.

And my erotic picture appears inside out.

What’s this scenic love all about.

The ways of my love seem upside down.

When she’s on top, covering me ’til I drown.

And I’m underneath, neither in, nor out.

What’s this crazy love all about.

The river of my love seems upside down.

When I’m sitting inside her smiling frown.

And her foreign body hits me in and out.

What’s this exotic love all about.

The world of my love seems upside down.

When I’m laying below her pounding mound.

And her endless thrusts, feel inside out.

What’s this frenzied love all about.

Ivor Steven (c 2018

Odds And Ends, Curiosity Going Around The Bend

Weekly Prompts: Word Prompt, This weeks word prompt: Curiosity.    And there’s plenty of curiosity in these odds and ends pieces of poetry that I’ve compiled below. They are all verse comments that I’ve made to some of my readers.

Curiosity

It’s the devil in me

curiosity of a busy bee

I just had to see

your words of poetry

Pencils

I never retire without my note-pad nearby

My lead pencil, my bedtime writing scribe

Sometimes heavy, other times light

A necessary sword to fight off dark nights

Words To You

You write to me

I write to you

Your thoughts say it all

Words do fall

Out of a crack in the wall

Stand on the rubble tall

Let the dust settle

Light up the Kettle

Have a cuppa and a chat

Light flows back, through the crack

Writing is our world

Words are our pearls

Drum Beat

Writing is a conundrum

Keep beating your drum

There’s a tune in your pen, for every line

Do not worry about the time

It’s only the sound of a chime

Everlasting is your journey’s climb

Rain And Pain

I no more seek pain

I feel caressed by the rain

Soothing my daily strain

Let it rain, I’m over being a champion

Clouds

oh, to float on a cloud high

be at peace with the sky

quietly breathe in and sigh

look down and wonder why

Upside Down

hanging around upside down

gives you a top view of the ground

reverses the annoying busy sounds

lets you think of life’s endless bounds

Wet Grass

You lay there bathing in moonshine

Caressing tingles down your spine

Freshening evening dew

Letting the moist grass entwine you

Lovely

Love has all the answers

Let us all pack our travel-bags

Join the world’ dancers

Let us all wave our white flags

Power

Is the shift of power

For every-ones good

Living in their glass towers

Hearts made of plastic wood

Leaving us to bow and cower

Raped by their greedy falsehoods

I Am You

You are you

From top to toe

You are you

From arm to palm

You are you

A heart full of gold

You are you

A light for our souls

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018