No Anchor, No Breaks, No Parachute!


In response to Sadje’s, WDYS # 291
>> https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2025/06/02/what-do-you-see-291-2june-2025/
I chose her second image, “a shot of a full moon, and in front of the moon, you can see a plane traveling!“




No Anchor, No Breaks, No Parachute!

“Hit the ground running,” they say
Well, I hit Monday
Without a ripcord
On my parachute
It mysteriously disappeared
Out of touch, out of sight
I think I left my ‘safety chute’
At the Market on Saturday

I’m only half finished
My new project,
Shangri La, Volume 14
“We desperately need
a coffee break”, I said to Frankie
So, down to the ‘Cafe’ we went!

This old poet had to relax
And slow down the adrenaline flow
“What goes up, must come down.”

Hopefully, when I crush tonight,
The landing will be a smooth one





Ivor Steven (c) June 2025

An Inside Job

At Creative Geelong Makers Hub on Saturday, there was a rare opportunity when all the artists’ shops and studios were open on the same day.


Inside the MAY’D Shop.


The House, a community artistic centre and creative workshop.


The Hot House, the Hair Stylist’s Salon, and his Art Studio.


The Collectables Shop.


Vicky, who specializes in doggie portraits.


Joanne’s, Eco Artland, and Isobel and Sue’s Art Studios.


Wishart Creative and Untether Gallery





An Inside Job

I’m on the inside, looking out
North or south means nout
In here, there are no louts
Nor any sign of the drought

I’m doing a native walkabout
From shop to shop, lights on, or out
There is nothing to doubt or flout
Pins and needles, nails and clouts
Paint brushes and ceramic grout
Statues and clay waterspouts
Colourful cards and canvases throughout
A hairstylist, who paints during his timeout

I’m on a wondrous whirlabout
Trekking the Makers Hub route
Like a curious Boy Scout





Ivor Steven (c) June 2025

MAY’D May Market

Creative Geelong had their annual “MAY’D May Market Festival” on the weekend. The weather was kind, and the event was a wonderful success for the stallholders and the enthusiastic crowd.


My poetry book stall.


Stallholders were also outside the Arcade, on Little Malop Street.


Live music and a coffee shop (next to my stall)


And various other forms of entertainment





Ivor Steven (c) June 2025

A Technical Knockout


Today’s poem is from a poetic response that I post about ‘Violet’s’ emotive poem >> https://violetslentz.home.blog/2025/05/27/pink-slip-2/

And over at Weekly Prompts, it’s the last weekend of the month and time for their One Day Prompt! To visit their fabulous site, please click on > Here




A Technical Knockout



When you’re down and out
feeling like a dry river-bed trout
flipping around after an endless drought
And you’re in the vacant corner of another losing bout
There’ll be one day, without doubt
you’ll have nothing left to shout about

Please, I beg, one last Guinness stout
before I get kicked in the spout
by Trump’s next lockout roundabout

After the ruthless rout,
when I blacked out
I was told by a local layabout
“there was no doubt,
the decision was a Technical Knockout”






Ivor Steven (c) June 2025

A New Anthology (a Tanka)

Feature Image: Please note that my copy of the Geelong Writers Inc. Anthology 2024 was signed by the editor, Judy Rankin, and Judy is also the publisher/editor of my 3 books, Tullawalla, Perceptions, and Until Eyes Hear Sound.





A New Anthology (a Tanka)



Through rain, hail, or shine
I am the messenger bird
I’ve important news
About the Anthology
Don’t let the wires clip my wings



And here is my poem from the Geelong Writers Inc. Anthology







Ivor Steven (c) May 2025

Throwback Friday, Odds and Sods, Spots and Blots

Today’s Throwback Friday poem is an odd collection of anecdotes from my hospital bed, written in December 2018. After I had just suffered a ‘minor’ stroke, and these were the jumbled thoughts that were tumbling out of my tired and confused mind …



Odds and Sods, Spots and Blots

Lazy Bones

Cordless phones
Garden gnomes
Overhead drones
Windowless homes
Creaks and moans
Lazy bones

Pain

Pain is like the rain
It comes and goes
Heavy and light

A Lie

It’s a lie that I don’t cry
It’s a lie that I passed you by
It’s a lie that I never tried
It’s a lie that I’ll never die

Mirror

Mirror, mirror, on the wall
You showed me how to stand tall
Again, it’s time for your call

Judge 

I’m neither a judge
Nor a dealer in sludge
I’d rather eat some fudge
And give my side of life a nudge

Even Though

Love is all above thee
Love is a blanket of autumn leaves
Love showers us with glee
Love is everywhere, to feel and see







Ivor Stven May 2025

Autumn’s Dry White Clouds





Autumn’s Dry White Clouds

There is a cold, lonely wind blowing
Through the whispering tree tops
And here below the heavy blue sky
I am leaning like a knave bowing
Meanwhile
I see Autumn’s dry white clouds
Quietly drift away without waving goodbye

Mystified, I am wondering why
This season has been so dry








.


Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)



Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)



Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books


OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com


Ivor Steven © May 2025

Creative Geelong’s May’d Festival


Our massive May Arts Festival is on “This Friday” from 5 pm to 9pm and Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm!

Join us for a two-day festival celebrating art, music, books, clothing, and more as we transform Centrepoint Arcade into a vibrant hub of creativity. With a bustling makers market, interactive workshops, and live music.

Creative Geelong’s May’d Festival is the perfect place to discover unique creations and a great opportunity to connect with fellow makers and creatives. This year is the fifth iteration of the May’d Festival and will showcase over 40 Creative Geelong Members.

The 2025 Event is supported by the City of Greater Geelong Events Grant program.







Ivor Steven May 2025

Nature’s Seeds

In response to Eugi’s Moonlighted Musings Prompt
>> https://amanpan.com/2025/05/27/moonwashed-weekly-prompt-may-27-2025/

a simple flower
summons smiles
calming of the day

Let one or more words in my poem be your inspiration.
Prompt contributions can be any variation of the prompt and/or image.


 Today’s short verse was originally written as a poetic comment to Sadje’s lovely poem >>  When leaves become words – Keep it alive 





Nature’s Seeds


May the world’s greed turn into earthly seeds 
Nature’s flower seeds, wheat seeds, and tree seeds 
And proceed to feed all those in need






Ivor Steven (c) May 2027