Throwback Friday, No Place Like Home

Today I am presenting another poem that will be appearing in my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”. I wrote ‘No Place Like Home’ in August 2020, and the poem will be the opening piece in Chapter 7. Memories and Rhymes



No Place Like Home


A sleeping beauty in her nightwear

Pure honesty lived in our home atmosphere

Her truth breathed, the air we shared




Hiding behind white silent doors

They tried to take her from our shores

By nailing her bed to a hospital floor

They heard my stoic voice roar




I told them, they wouldn’t win

“And watch out!! Don’t throw her in

you’ll surely regret your foolish sin

be warned, she’s Circe the Siren”




When I held her sweetness

I believe I touched greatness

And achieved weightlessness









A Blanket of Golden Sun

Today’s poem might be the 2nd poem I recite at Geelong’s Lowercase Poetry Open Mic event tonight … or maybe the piece will be too sentimental for me to read …


A Blanket of Golden Sun


I’m flying above silver linings

Gliding on layers of white velvet

Travelling toward a golden horizon

Looking for her celestial star

Bright as today’s golden sun


That warm blanket of radiance

Lovingly crafted by her gentle hands

Held together by golden strings

From a softly humming violin

That played our song, “Once Upon a Time”

Reciting the golden hours of our love story




“Once Upon a Time”: our favourite version, sung by Bobby Darin







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) July 2023


An Enchantresses Flower

Today’s poem is a piece I’ll be reciting at Geelong’s Lowercase Poetry open mic event tomorrow evening (Thursday)





An Enchantresses Flower 


 
 
Beyond the golden horizon 

Blooms a star-spangled ocean


 

Beware! 

Beneath the sparkling whitecaps golden hour 

Beckons the siren Circe with her enchantress flower




 








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) July 2023

Take Heart (a Tanka)



Take Heart (a Tanka)




Here on holy ground

I see either you or I

Below the dark sky

And the world’s wavering trees

Being saved by the sun’s heart









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) July 2023

Winter Sun

 At Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word, Discovery. Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here … and my poem below is in response to their prompt





Winter Sun



What my careless eyes perceived

My unprepared senses

Soon discovered, they were deceived

The day appeared sunny enough for a stroll

And I ventured into the afternoon cold

Ten steps out, a glacial wind took hold


The sharp Antarctic blast

Snapped every limb within grasp

My breath turned into icy glass

My ears were stabbed by frigid darts

My cheeks were slapped by gloves of frozen brass

And the winter sun failed to warm my heart









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) July 2023

Throwback Friday, Flying Bricks of War

Today I am presenting another poem that will be appearing in my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”. I wrote ‘Flying Bricks of War’ in May 2021, and the poem will be the opening piece in Chapter 6. War! Without Peace

Featured Image Above: Gaza Strip border, Kibbutz Netiv Ha’Asara, Israel © Kai Wiendenhofer




Flying Bricks of War


There is a divisive brick wall

That stands harsh and tall

To stop people breaking their fall


Then the leaders in ivory towers

Ceased talking about peace and flowers

And hurled bricks into that sandy strip

One brick after another brick

Flew from one side to the other

Smashing innocent children and mothers


Flying bricks crumbling into dust

Creating dirty clouds of mistrust


The walls of Babylon fell again

As brick upon brick crushed human brains


Brick upon brick filled the bloody drains

Brick upon brick killed and maimed








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) July 2023

Almost Home (a Senryu)

“I move with the leaves
I shine with the chrome
I’m almost alive
I’m almost at home” … Leonard Cohen





Almost Home (a Senryu)


Job done, five straight days

I am almost exhausted

Triumphant, I coped








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) July 2023

Forever is a Long Time




I received some special news during the week

A thing that happens to most books and their authors

But for this old poet the occurrence has extra significance

My wonderful editor/publisher, Judy

Deposited my books, Tullawalla and Perceptions

With the Australian National Library, for archiving


The books and me (Ivor Steven) as the author

Are now forever a part of Australia’s Artistic history

Not bad for the descendant of a convict

Yessiree!

I can almost hear them cheering and clapping





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) July 2023

Back On The Tools. (adapted from “An Old-time Plumber”)


Sorry to my readers and followers for my lack of blogging this week … The old plumber/poet traded his quill in for his old rusty spanner and dirty hammer …
Drawing Above: done for me in 2017 by, Rose – https://poetrummager.org/


Back On The Tools. (adapted from “An Old-time Plumber”)


Could I actually do the task?

Am I physically strong enough?

Am I mentally sharp and able enough?

To endure four to fives days of hard work?


Surprise, surprise, I have survived the first three days

Job is nearing completion and the clients are suitably pleased

And I am home beside the heater and enjoying a red wine

Although when I finished it was already dark

And my back was stiff as red-gum bark

But a job stamped by my old-time quality trademark









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) July 2023

A Ladybug Flies in From Bensalem

I have just completed the second edit and redraft of the manuscript for my book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”, and officially the poem below, will be the Book’s opening poem in, Chapter 1, ‘Little Creatures and The Birds


A Ladybug Flies in From Bensalem


A scarlet caped ladybug

Lands on my sleeve and gently shrugs

Resting there, snug as a bug on a rug

And honouring me with love and soft hugs




Nature’s tiniest of goddesses

Who fans us with butterfly kisses

Kindly sharing good fortune and best wishes

Then quietly fluttering away to the next Hibiscus





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) July 2023