Serenity, a Sign of the Times

Our 2nd Lockdown/Isolation of 6 weeks started a few days ago, and I’m afraid my anxiety levels did soar…. but I had a little project to do for a friend’s new abode. To make a house name sign, called “Serenity”…. Anyhow when I started, I was feeling quite ordinary, physically weak and shaky, but as I progressed with the project, as the name suggests, ‘serenity’, with each passing day, I was gradually becoming more settled and calmer. this morning after applying the 5th coat of ‘sun yellow’ lettering onto the ‘deep ocean’ colour background, I was happily pleased with my finished piece of craftsmanship. The task was both, enjoyable and relaxing. Then I wrote this little serene poem…. Now I must say the “Serenity” name plaque does look handsome on my verandah wall !!

 

Serenity, a Sign of the Times

 

Serenity lives high in the trees

Swims freely in warm seas

Serenity glides on a soft breeze

Hovers among our gentle bees

 

Serenity’s now a forgotten rhyme

A fading sign of the times

Serenity now adorns my verandah wall

A gathering light, my evening shawl

 

 

Ivor Steven (c) August 2020.

We All Have a Tambourine

locked down and locked up

shut in and shut up

 

In this garbage virus bin

what is my holy sin

has Judas already been?

 

where am I going

with my green tambourine

and this broken violin

anyhow, who’s listening?

 

am I still dreaming

about being a human being?

 

about falling backwards

where the stars are flying outwards

with thoughts looking upwards

 

questions I bring

songs I sing

answers live within

 

every day there’s a new sunrise

every day there’s a new surprise

as I look at every day through fresh eyes

I don’t always see blue skies

I don’t always feel happy and wise

Today I’m a bronze statue in Levis’

And I’ll be satisfied with third prize

 

 

 

 

Ivor Steven (c) August 2020

A Blackbird Sings

My dream was falling backwards

The stars were flying outwards

My thoughts are looking upwards

 

As I hear the mourning blackbird

He’s singing about a deadly virus attack

And how we’re to overcome this unearthly hazard

“You’re to seek guidance from our masters

The solar rulers have witnessed your disasters”

 

The sun frowns, and sighs to the moon

We must save the earth from gloom

There’s no need for us to whisper

It’s time to dissolve the covid’s dirty blister

 

Ivor Steven (c) August 2020.

Standing Upright

Hello dear readers, I’ve been writing this poem over the last three days, and I was struggling to obtained any rhythm between thoughts and words, and then I saw a wondrous photo on Derrick Knight’s blog/website this morning, (which is my ‘Featured Image’ above), and his photo of the glorious old oak tree, immediately channelled my thoughts, into that of strength and resilience, and from there, my Title was formed, and my words started to become a more cohesive piece of poetry…. Thank you Derrick, for allowing me to use this beautiful and impressive photo, with my humble little poem.

Standing Upright

My heart’s bruised from bygone blood-stones

Threaded together by the spirits of old bones

And they’re resting within my ageing body’s soft clay

But I’m leaking, soulful droplets on sunny days

The world’s foul winds are blowing me off my feet

When I’m wobbling down cold and dusty streets

Then a modern medicine-man came with his young tribe

Re-tuning my rusty pieces, with rhythmical vibes

And they declared my cello strings, to be plucky enough

To handle tomorrow’s mystery masks and travellers handcuffs

Ivor Steven (c) August 2020

Yellow Light

“How wonderful the colour yellow is. It stands for the sun!” – Vincent Van Gogh.

This weekend is the Monthly Colour Challenge for August, and the ‘Weekly Prompt’ team have chosen;  Sunshine Yellow.  Please go and visit their fabulous site by clicking > Here Below; is my response to the prompt, with attached photos and a Haiku

 

Yellow Light,  a Haiku

 

Today the sky smiled

Above golden setting sun

And the moon did shine

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  August 2020

Drifting Forward

I’ve having a busy Wednesday. My Barwon (Geelong) Health, and Aged Care Plan, has begun today, with a morning visit from the nurse organising my plan, and this afternoon, the plan’s Doctor came to visit me, and from tomorrow, I’ll be having daily visits by physiotherapists and occupational therapists. .. The health program is design around keeping me comfortable and safe at home, and reduce the risks of further falls or accidents in the home… Don’t worry, I am reasonably healthy, and I’m happy to be within this scheme, which is about looking after susceptible older persons living by themselves, and after my recent episodes, I’m in that category….   So my time here on WP has been limited today, and will be for a couple of weeks, as get used to health plan’s orientation and introduction…. Haha,.. having said all that, I had time to write this Haiku at lunchtime, a piece which had been drifting about in mind….

 

Drifting Forward

 

Cleanse our dirty clouds

Saturate the stains with rain

Wash away this pain

 

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  July 2020