My Words Are No Longer, “Invisible Miracles”

Today I received the most wonderful news, that my book “Until Eyes Eyes Hear” has been accepted by the Geelong Regional Library, and will soon be available on the Library’s bookshelves. A big thank you to Pete, the Collection Support & Information Services Officer at the Geelong Library, for accepting my book.
This publication now follows in the footsteps of my first two books at the Library, “Tullawalla” and “Perceptions”. I know Dad and Mum would be proud of my achievements, and that my Dear Carole would be crying tears of “Liquid Joy” for me. …






Invisible Miracles (Until Eyes Hear Sound, page 95)

I am neither black nor white
I am not day nor night
I am neither sand nor sea
I am not a flower or a bee
I am not wrong or right
I am not heavy or light

I am Clear and free
I am a cool ocean breeze
I am a song we breathe
I am the air from our trees
I am a star above your grave
I am a shy sound wave

I can be brave
I am your invisible slave



When I began writing (scribbling) poetry 23 years ago, not long after my first stroke, Leonard Cohen’s music and poetic lyrics had a huge influence on the emotions behind my words, and his song that I have attached below, “One of Us Cannot Be Wrong”, still evokes my heart every time I listen to the incredibly beautiful lyrics.






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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 (c) January 2025

Floating In Exile




Floating In Exile 
 
 
I am flying inside a dream  
somewhere between  
twilight’s dark indigo sky  
and earth’s blackest ocean  

I see a grey horizon  
floating in exile  
upon a moonlit lagoon  
without a compass or a sundial  
 
meanwhile  
swimming across the Nile 
they refile my profile  
from butterfly to freestyle  
 
then I wake up inside a crocodile  
and wonder, have I the guile?  
to walk another mile  
toward the exit turnstile 






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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 (c) January 2025

A Nest That Never Rests






A Nest That Never Rests



On this sombre Sunday morning
the day is typically quiet
and under the hanging grey clouds
there is a whispering cool breeze
for the birds to hover upon
where they uniquely monitor
the unpredictable world below


And while lazily meandering
I cannot help but wonder
what do the birds perceive?
of us, unappreciative homo-sapiens
as we continue to vandalize our sacred planet
and randomly ravage our own nest




“The Wild”, lyrics, Mumford & Sons

We saw birth and death
Can’t we be still
What makes you kind
From where comes your sparkling mind

Was it under the earth?
Tied up in a knot
Which I forgot you were ever there

Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid

What’s that I see?
I think it’s the wild
Puts the fear of God in me

And was there a grudge
Up from the dust
Inconceivable lie

What’s that I see?
I think it’s the wild
Puts the fear of God in me




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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 (c) January 2025

Is This the Right Time?





Is This the Right Time?



we slept in this morning
we are behind time

or are we on time
for whatever time
decreed by time
to be the right time

time is neither more nor less
time is endless

there are many times
we need a hand
but time hears no command

time is here and now
time is the universe’s eternal vow







.


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 (c) January 2025

One Day at a Time/or, Is There Time?


Over at Weekly Prompts, because It’s the last weekend of the month, it’s time for the “One Day” Prompt! … To visit their fabulous site, please click on >> Here




“One Day” at a Time/or, Is There Time?

Time to relax
Time for coffee and a snack
Time for observing
Time for listening

Time is neither lost nor found
Time rebounds
Without a sound

Time cannot be unwound
Time is all around







.


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 (c) January 2025

Robbie’s Inspiration – Book reviews: Perceptions by Ivor Steven and Derrick Knight

A special thank you to Robbie Cheadle of “Robbie’s Inspiration” for her majestic review of “our” book. Please refer to her complete article by clicking on this link >> https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/2025/01/24/robbies-inspiration-book-reviews-perceptions-by-ivor-stevens-and-derrick-knight-and-amanda-in-scotland-by-darlene-foster/?_gl=1*3amfe7*_gcl_au*Mzg4MTk1MzY0LjE3MzcwMjMwNTI.


Robbie’s Inspiration – Book reviews: Perceptions by Ivor Steven and Derrick Knight

What Amazon says

This colourful and fascinating book is a collection of collaborative articles. The photographs were taken by Derrick Knight from the New Forest area of southern England, and associated ekphrastic poems were written by Ivor Steven from Geelong, the other side of the world, the southern end of Australia.

My review

I am a fan of Ivor Steven’s poetry and also of Derrick Knight’s photography so this combined collection of poetry and photography is a real treat.

Ivor depicts everyday events and life through a lens of beautiful and uplifting words which is a marvelous talent. Derrick captures everyday life in an unusual and special way. I really enjoyed these combinations.

A few examples of the poetry with descriptions of the accompanying photographs:

Sunset couple on bench – a gorgeous photograph of the sun setting over water and flooding the world with golden light with a silhouette of a loving couple on a bench.

The words: A Rainbow Dance
“At the end of the rainbow
We shall dance and glow
On nature’s golden plateau”

Autumn woodland – a wonderful photograph of a wooded area during autumn which the trees are a variety of yellows, greens and auburns. There is a large bush, in shades of beige, in the forefront.

An extract from Connected:
“up there
under draconian dark clouds
I see a blue moon rising
gracefully shrouding the horizon”

Ferns and grasses – a glorious picture of ferns and grasses adorned in shades of green and yellow, dancing in the sunlight.

Extract from The Ancient Fern Survives:
“selfish, unopened minds remain numbed
False eyelashes are heavy and closed
Botoxed lips are silent and sealed
And elephant ears have been pegged out of sight”

This book is a special combination of visual and literary delights.

Purchase Perceptions on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1387487302

Purchase Perceptions on Lulu.com here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions&page=1&pageSize=4








Ivor Steven (c) January 2025

Flying Through Time



Flying Through Time

Flying below the clouds
or
Zooming above the bay
or
Swooping across the paddocks


My wings
are oblivious
to the climb
And do not hear
the sound of time






.


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 (c) January 2025

Throwback Friday, Dragonfly, Nature’s Guardian Eye

Featured Image: my dragonfly photo from Thursday.

Yesterday I successfully photographed a Dragonfly in flight, which inspired me to post today’s Throwback Friday poem, “Dragonfly, Nature’s Guardian Eye”.

Below are Images, from 19th March 2023: I am thrilled to say that the attached photos are mine, and they are my first-ever successful photographs of Dragonflies …





Dragonfly, Nature’s Guardian Eye



Long before homo sapiens overachievers
You were the swamp’s incorruptible believer
Overseer of the planet’s rivers and valleys
The weary world’s ardent ally

Long before the floundering Ark
You were our wisest Monarch
Overseer of the forest’s unpolluted sky
Nature’s sprightly guardian eye







.


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 (c) January 2025

Ripples in the Sky


** Over at Week Prompts, the Wednesday Challenge is the word ‘Excellent’. To visit their fabulous site please click on >> Here.

** Also at Eugi’s Moonwashed Musings
>> https://amanpan.com/2025/01/21/moonwashed-weekly-prompt-chroma/





Ripples in the Sky



Hi, to all perceptive observers,
you, might not be able to see me,
but, if you look through telescopic eyes,
I’m up here, high in the Cirrocumulus clouds,
lounging in my excellent recliner chair,
sharing the sky’s Blue Theatre,
with the daytime silvery moon.

We are tactfully floating upon
the troposphere’s delicate white ripples,
and wistfully waving to the world’s
congregating survivors.









.


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 (c) January 2025