Geelong Writers, Winter Solstice Challenge, in 22 Words

My poem “Winter Slaps Autumn in the Eye” was one of 17 selected for publication in the Geelong Writers, “Winter Solstice Challenge” Brochure. Below is a photo of how the poem appears in the Geelong Writers Brochure




Winter Slaps Autumn In the Eye (a Tanka)




Time shortens in stride

Autumn leaves pepper the ground

Winter slaps the sky

Midday sun closes her eyes

Naked trees wisely survive







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) June 2023


Throwback Friday, Who Hears Me?

Today I am presenting another poem that will be appearing in my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”. I wrote ‘Who Hears Me’ in February 2021, and the poem will be the opening piece in Chapter 5. Observations, “Until Eyes Hear Sound”



Who Hears Me?

My ears are funnels
But I do not want to hear
The voices

My lips do part
But I do not speak
The words

My knees do bend
But I cannot sit
While I can still stand

My eyes are open
But I do not want to see
My shadow falling




,


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) June 2023

Twilight’s Bookends, Published by Geelong Writers, in AnoMaly Street, Anthology

This evening I went to the book launch of The Geelong Writers, Anomaly Street (Poetry With A Difference), a twice-yearly collection of poetry that creates jolts for flatlined minds, and to the editor, Jo Curtain, for selecting my poem. Below is a photo of the poem’s presentation in the book … (my scanner is broken)









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) June 2023

Only One Day of “Voting” Left … Lines To Nowhere, has been nominated for Publication of The Month of June, at “Spillwords Magazine”


If you wish to “Vote” for me, you can vote here: https://spillwords.com/vote/

I am proud to announce that my poem “Lines To Nowhere” has been nominated for Publication of The Month of June, at “Spillwords Magazine”. A big thank you to the editing team at Spillwords for the nomination, and hearty congratulations to the other Nominees.
    
Voting will cease on 6/29 and soon after we will reveal the winner.
Please note, you need to register and/or login to vote.

The winning publication will be featured on Spillwords.com sidebar during the entire month of July!

HERE ARE THE NOMINEES:

Mid Week by Roy Eisenstein
Lines To Nowhere by Ivor Steven
Mermaids & Miracles by Ann Parker
The Sunset, The Beach, The Stars, and The Midnight Sky by Michelle Ayon Navajas
When You Find Your Center by Kate Leo
Darker The Water, The Deeper The Deep by Gerry Stefanson
Joy by Daniel Clarke-Serret
The Centre of My Universe by Jane Bradshaw
Two Faces by Chris Corbett
Dead Man’s Hand by Kerr Pelto
At 28 Weeks: When Reality Shifts by Erin P.T. Canning
And All That Jazz by Angela Huskisson
Piggy by Zach Zajac
Dress Rehearsal by Jon A Lunsford

Good luck to all!




Lines to Nowhere 

As my drapes fell apart 
I saw a setting eclipse 
And I decided to walk 
To the south side of the moon 


Carrying my plastic spoon 
There, a giant vanilla cheesecake 
Rolled over the crusty moonscape 
On a giant crumbly base 
Topped with blueberries and cream 
Laying here in bed, life is but a dream 

The evening skyline begins to drool 
Am I, a full moon’s fool? 
I will meet you at the old school 
Down by the empty pool 
This time we will not be ridiculed 
 
  
Ivor Steven © June 2023. Spillwords Magazine, New York  







Ivor Steven(c) June 2023

Free Like a Bird





Free Like a Bird (a Tanka)


He is standing there

Longing to fly with her soon

Wings begin flapping

And up he gracefully soars

Spiraling toward wisdom







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) June 2023

Yellow Boulders, is in this week’s Coffee House Writers Magazine

Hello dear readers and followers, I am writing for “Coffee House Writers” magazine on a fortnightly basis, and my poem “Yellow Boulders”, is in this week’s edition of Coffee House Writers Magazine. … please click on the link below to view my poem, at Coffee House Writers Magazine. >> https://coffeehousewriters.com/yellow-boulders/







Ivor Steven (c) June 2023

Blinded By the Light 





Blinded By the Light 


 
 
Good morning golden one 

Can you see us? 

From above the world’s pieces 

Of tattered sky 

We are the ones 

Wearing smeared makeup 

Around our weeping eyes


 

Good morning gifted one 

Can you save us? 

From the world’s darkening clouds 

Of hard rain 

We are the ones 

Wearing molten mascara 

Blinding our silent eyes 








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) June 2023


The Stage is Set (a Tanka)

Please visit the Geelong Arts Centre Development via clicking on this link >>
https://www.development.vic.gov.au/projects/geelong-arts-centre?page=overview




The Stage is Set (a Tanka)




Unfurl the curtain

For the grand opening night

Geelong’s pride and joy

A cultural theatre

And Arts Centre is ready





I know it’s not poosible: but in my dreamy imagination, it would have been fabulous to have our local international star, Xavier Rudd, sing at the opening night




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) June 2023

Seven Shades of Gray





Seven Shades of Gray 


 
 
My morning is not ruined 

The sky has finished crying 

And the awakening winter sun 

Begins painting the clouds  

In shades of coral gray  

Artfully illuminating my day  









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) June 2023

Throwback Friday, Empty Streets and Lonely Chairs

Today I am presenting another poem that will be appearing in my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”. I wrote ‘Empty Streets and Lonely Chairs’ in August 2020, and the poem will be the openining piece in Chapter 4. The New World? The Same Universe!



Empty Streets and Lonely Chairs


The witty city ones

Don’t get to see all of the sun

They rant and grimace during the day

At night you’ll hear them cry and bay

Their barks are worse than their bites

If they saw the white wolf they’d get a fright



The icing has melted on their cakes

And run off with their dirty plates

Behind masks, mesmerised eyes blankly stare

At the city’s empty streets and lonely chairs

There’s too many people in the same boat

This ancient raft’s struggling to stay afloat

There’s not enough life-jackets for the crowd

Some will drown, others will stand proud






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) June 2023