It is Manuscript Time, is in this week’s Coffee House Writers Magazine edition.

Hello, dear readers and followers. I write for Coffee House Writers magazine (USA) fortnightly, and my poem “It Is Manuscript Time” is in this week’s edition. …
To read my poem, please click on the link below to visit the articleat Coffee House Writers Magazine.
>> https://coffeehousewriters.com/it-is-manuscript-time/










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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 © April 2025

Poetry Treasures 5 – Small Pleasures

I am delighted to have 5 of my poems in this anthology! Superbly compiled by the editors, Kaye Lynne Booth and Robbie Cheadle …
And I join these fabulous poets, DL Mullan, Barbara Harris Leonhard, Jude Itakali, Robbie Cheadle, Michelle Ayon Navajas, Gwen M. Plano, Elizabeth Gauffreau, David Bogomolny, Dawn Pasturino, Maggie Watson, and Colleen Chesebro, who share their own small pleasures in poetic verse.

Available on Amazon Australia;

Also available on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Treasures-5…/dp/B0F3VJC23W.




Ivor Steven (c) April 2025

Twilight Moonbeams






Twilight Moonbeams

I’m craftily chasing moonbeams
Within my twilight daydream
Where the world’s peaceful streams
Are full of nature’s honey and cream







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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 © April 2025

Who Owns Our “Promised Land”

Today’s poem is one of my verses made up of comments I posted on some of my fellow WordPress writers’ articles during the month … In stanza order, they are:

Dwight >> https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/beauty-or-beast/
Beth >> https://ididnthavemyglasseson.com/2025/04/04/enter-the-penguins/
Eugi >> https://amanpan.com/2025/04/10/shedding-masks-a-journey-from-darkness-to-light/
Violet >> https://violetslentz.home.blog/2025/04/10/a-perfect-fit/
Louise >> https://dareboldly.com/2025/03/31/raw-of-rage-fear-and-release/

** The word “Sinuous” is the weekend challenge at Weekly Prompts. Please go and visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here.
I think my poem below could be classified as a “Sinuous Poem”




Who Owns Our “Promised Land”

We know it’s nature’s way
Survival is not a showy ballet
And birds don’t have holidays

The clever little penguins will display their true mettle
When all the showy snowflakes finally settle
They are going to resell their snowy wonderland
Back to the ‘Promised Land’, for a million-grand

Shedding those old tacky masks
Maybe a refractory task

Our perfection is impossible
The dejection is horrible
His resurrection is improbable

Rage is for the stage
Fear is always near
Release me, piece by piece






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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 © April 2025

Fannkenstein, Life, Death, Life. A Costume Exhibition at ‘Untether Gallery’, Geelong

Yesterday evening I attended the opening of a unique Costume Exhibition, curated by Andrew Delaney, at the ‘Untether Gallery’ in Geelong. The transcripts about the show are attached below to help you understand what the “Frankenstein, Life, Death, Life” exhibition was about.
In 1825 a play based on Mary Shelley’s infamous novel Frankenstein was staged in the Theatre Royale in Drury Lane. It was banned after only three performances and the costumes stored away …


The images below, are mine and were all taken at the event with the kind permission of Andrew Delaney.











Ivor Steven (c) April 2025

Throwback Friday, A Steep Slide (a Musette)

Ryan Stone [https://daysofstone.wordpress.com] introduced me to the poem format Musette back in September 2022, and today, I am reposting my first-ever attempt at writing a Musette.

“Musette” 
three verses 
first line – 2 syllables 
second line – 4 syllables 
third line – 2 syllables 
rhyme scheme – a/b/a c/d/c e/f/e 
the title reflects the poem’s content 



A Steep Slide (a Musette)



I creep
Down the steep slide
I weep

Betrayed
I hide and shake
Afraid

I crawl
Away from shame
And bawl








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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 © April 2025

Cheeky Wattlebird (a Haiku)






Cheeky Wattlebird (a Haiku)

Autumn’s clear blue sky
Has the cheeky wattlebird
Flaunting his bright plumes






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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 © April 2025

A Poet and a Handyman





A Poet and a Handyman




Today I completed making two book display easels
for my upcoming market bookstalls
There happened to be some discarded timber
lying on the ground at the building site next door.
The tradesmen had finished the job a month ago
and these sturdy slats of wood had been left behind.

“Waste not want not”
“One man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure”
“Opportunity knocks”
“Fortune favours the brave”

My handyman’s mind clicked into gear
and I drafted a rough sketch of my project
I knew the size of the books I wanted to exhibit
and I had all the appropriate tools in my shed

Remembering my dad’s trusted catchphrase
“Measure twice, cut once” (and with my music playing)
My creation, (and a few trial and error mistakes)
gradually began to take shape.

Of course, there is nothing like a good coat of paint
to cover up the defects and give my masterpiece
that final seal of opaque professionalism!






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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 © April 2025

Birds! (a Tanka)

A flock of Corella’s

Graceful Doves

Grey Fantails, very swift and agile (challenging to photograph)





Birds! (a Tanka)

I stand here and sigh
As all the birds fly past me
Chirping happily
I stand here and wonder why
Freedom is only for them








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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 © April 2025

All My Leaves Are Brown





All My Leaves Are Brown



Here I sway on barren ground
my leaves have turned brown
and are sullenly looking down,
my branches are going brittle
withering away little by little

I have heard passersby say
That tree is dying and
should be taken away”

Then I think to myself
Maybe they’ll make me into a bookshelf
for the Library at the Tree Hospital”






.


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 © April 2025