A Single Weeping Tree (A Villanelle)

This is my first attempt at writing a Villanelle style of poem. As a beginner, I took the easy way out and restructured one of my old poems, and actually I’ve wanted to revise this old classic of mine, the poem was originally called “This Lost Shadow”, and dear Shefali of  writtenframes  ,inspired/prompted me to try to write one. I’m not sure if I’ve got the Villanelle style technically ok, so please, I’m open to any suggestions and corrections to my effort here.

 

I’m singing this song about a single weeping tree

Why am I so sleepy, am I ageing too quickly

I’m writing that book for a soul gone cold

 

I’m so physically worn and mentally at sea

Why am I so anxious and lonely

I’m singing this song about a single weeping tree

 

I’m writing a song about my return to the fold

Why am I so sore, have I lost my plea

I’m writing that book for a soul gone cold

 

I’m a furnace log, burning up with glee

I’m a sinking ship, all about to flee

I’m writing this song about a single weeping tree

 

I’m an overburdened camel, not to be told

I’m an empty desert, a void, far as the eye can see

I’m writing that book for a soul gone cold

 

I’m a broken branch, withering and dying, oh so slowly

I’m this lost shadow, wandering this barren land furtively

I’m singing this song about a single weeping tree

I’m writing that book for a soul gone cold

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

Thank you to dear Shefali for her wonderful encouragement and invaluable assistance, and if you would like to have a try at a Villanelle here’s a very good “How To” link,              A link to help you : https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Villanelle

 

 

An Award For Ivor.

It’s award time, beautiful people!  The Sunshine Blogger Award comes to me from Dancia at .https://danicapiche.com  and her wonderful site,  Living a Beautiful Life  Thank you, Dancia!  I am honored.  Please visit her if you’re not already following her blog — she is indeed the essence of sunshine.

I don’t usually do these awards, maybe I don’t feel worthy https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2018/06/29/we-are-not-worthy-nor-grand/ ,  maybe I don’t like doing the questions, or maybe I don’t have enough time. Anyhow I’m doing this one for Dancia.

What is The Sunshine Blogger Award?

The Sunshine Blogger Award recognizes bloggers who inspire positivity and joy.

What are the rules for The Sunshine Blogger Award?

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you for the award and link to their blog.
  • List the rules and include The Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post.
  • Answer the 11 Questions asked of you.
  • Write a new list of 11 Questions for your Nominees.
  • Nominate 11 bloggers for The Sunshine Blogger Award.

.

11 Questions Asked of Me:

.What is happiness to you?

Home and love

What is one place you love visiting?

Ocean Grove surf beach, sun, golden sand and surf, that’s perfection.

What is your favorite comfort food?

An egg & bacon roll at my Football Club on game days, with a few beers !!

What is the best advice about life you’ve received?

Probably best explained in this little poem of mine, “I Do Thee Shine”
 When I was little and young.                                                                                                                    “Your heart will always shine” Said Mum.                                                                                            When I grew up, a know-all teenager.                                                                                                     Head strong, and an all-night rager.                                                                                                      “Your love of life will shine through” Said Dad.                                                                                    Later on I married, so happy and glad.                                                                                                  Suddenly, one spring, MS touched her bad.                                                                                               The shining dulled and time turned sad.                                                                                                  Dad said, “Your heart shone through”.                                                                                                     And Mum said, “Her Star will always shine on you”.                                                                              My Star, my Dad and Mum, you are my spine.                                                                                         For you, I do thee shine.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        What is your favorite song at the moment?

I’ve hundreds of fav’s, mainly by, Leonard Cohen, but the one I’m playing at the moment, is by Nick Cave, “To Be By Your Side”

What have you been wanting to do and haven’t yet?

Travel, especially to America and Philadelphia.

What would you teach a class or person tomorrow, if you had to?

To be kind and have compassion

What did you dream of as a child?

To grow up to bo as good as my dad

What habit would you like to quit?

I’d like to stop crying as much as I do, “How many rivers of tears must we cry, before all the deepest wells run dry”

Where do you get your blogging inspiration?

Most of my poems emanate from my dreams

What is one interesting or weird thing about you that most people don’t know?

Since my stroke, as I’m aging, tiredness sometimes overwhelms me, and then I suffer anxiety and have panic attack because I’m feeling inadequate.

If anyone would like to participate and answer the above questions, please do, and as I feel I might be imposing on my fellow bloggers, I won’t be nominating anyone.

 

***
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who follows, comments, likes or quietly tours my blog.
I truly appreciate every one of you.

A Baby Book, The Four Of Us

Weekly Prompts–  Photo Challenge –   Timeworn                                                                    I’ve found this baby book of my dad’s. The book is nearly 70 years old, given to my parents by my grandmother, my mothers mom, to celebrate the birth of my older brother, Danny

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Above, bottom right, my parents with Danny. 1949.

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Above, my dad’s log of Danny’s first 4 weeks.

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Above, in the left frame, my grandmother, Elizabeth, with Danny, and on the right, my mom, Esther, with Danny.

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Then came Ivor and my little brother, Lawrence.

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And finally mom had a daughter that she always wanted, Myfanwy Glenys, and interestingly dad also logged the birth of Myfanwy’s daughter April.

Oh… This is a later attachment, have been feeling quite nostalgic since I posted this article, and I’m adding this lovely song, I hope you enjoy.

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

Let Us Not Be Silent

Let us not turn a blind eye

Clear the dark clouds from our sky

Extract our heads from the sand

Join our national brass band

Blow loudly on your trumpets

Let us stop being pawns and puppets

We’re not the sheep of their lands

We can be the blanket for our lambs

A collective sheet, protective and grand

 

Let us not be silent and bland

Clear the stage, make a stand

The worlds suffering children need us

Before they’re herded onto the bus

Like lambs to the slaughter

Imagine, our sons and daughters

Laying on concrete, alone and caged

Crying, weeping, could it be our ice-age

We’re distraught and outraged

Compassion, love, is paramount on centre-stage

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

Quote #2, “Together We Can Help”

“Fellow Writers, We Have The Power, We Have A Voice, We Have A Pen, Collectively, We’re Able To Help, Help The Children Of The World, Stop Them Crying For Help.”

Together We Can Help

 

Let us all help

It’s Time

Time to have a say

Voice your feelings

Tell your stories

Use your pen

Speak from your soul

Talk about their little feet

Feel their mammas heartbeat

Give your all

Walk tall

We need to help

Children is my prompt

Lets do the stomp

It’s your call

One and all

Don’t let the children crawl

Save them before they fall

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

When Do They Play

For all the wrongfully incarcerated children around the world, what sort of humans have we become to allow such heart-wrenching home-wreaking, that will undoubtably cause permanent damage to the innocent children. “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treat its children.” – Nelson Mandela.

When Do They Play

 

Our emotions are boiling on high

Lowly governments are hiding like spies

When do the children play

Where do their Moms and Dads stay

Why should we have to pray

This is not our humane way

Promised tomorrows should be theirs today

Please, when do the children play

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

 

When Do They Play

For all the wrongfully incarcerated children around the world, what sort of humans have we become to allow such heart-wrenching home-wreaking, that will undoubtably cause permanent damage to the innocent children.

When Do They Play

 

Our emotions are boiling on high

Lowly governments are hiding like spies

When do the children play

Where do their Moms and Dads stay

Why should we have to pray

This is not our humane way

Promised tomorrows should be theirs today

Please, when do the children play

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

 

The Ship Song

There’s not a lot more I can say about this classic song, “The Ship Song”, by Nick Cave, and a special video clip for you all to enjoy. The Ship Song Project – Sydney Opera House reinterprets Nick Cave’s iconic song. Performed by Neil Finn, Kev Carmody and The Australian Ballet, Sarah Blasko, John Bell, Angus and Julia Stone, Paul Kelly and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Opera Australia, Martha Wainwright, Katie Noonan and The Sydney Symphony, The Temper Trap, Daniel Johns and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Nick Cave –

The Ship Song lyrics

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around

We talk about it all night long
We define our moral ground
But when I crawl into your arms
Everything comes tumbling down

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Your face has fallen sad now
For you know the time is nigh
When I must remove your wings
And you, you must try to fly

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around

 

Ivor Steven (c)  2018

We Are Not Worthy, Nor Grand

The Sandbox Writing Challenge 2018 — Exercise 23

26 TuesdayJun 2018

Posted by

 

maya writing.1

`
What message just for you
is hidden in this ancient writing?

We Are Not Worthy Nor Grand

 

The Time-travelers have been and gone

Transcending the stars and beyond

Leaving us the message carved in stone

Obvious warnings, pointing the bone

“You are not worthy, nor grand

to care for Mother Earth’s beautiful land”

Decrying our human-kinds faults

Locking our world’s children in vaults

Poisoning our plants, rivers, and seas

Contaminating the air we breathe

Burning our forests

Vehicle fumes

Nuclear bombs

Rulers greed

Before we even feed

Our fellow-man

Slaughter upon slaughter

Like we’re lambs

Guns and bullets

Millions for every bloody stand

Like dead seeds in our hands

Not giving life, only death and sand

We are not worthy, nor grand

It’s time, to make a stand

Who’s going to lead our band

 

“It’s Time”,  https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2017/07/25/its-time/

Ivor Steven (c)  2018