Throwback Friday, Black Snow Thaws In The Winter Sun (Revised)

Today my ‘Throwback Friday’ poem, is from June 2019, and again, as is my way, I have slightly revised the original piece.



Black Snow Thaws In The Winter Sun (Revised)

I’ve no more secret words of sorrow
Only old lines I’ve borrowed
I found them in a poet’s dusty booklet
The pages were tattered, like Grandma’s cookbook
Hidden in the family’s sacred cabinet
Faded words that now appear outdated
Years of love and dreams relegated
Stored away, but prudently not wasted

My road ahead is now cleared of black snow
The night is not always dark, you know?












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Perceptions:

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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) August 2024

Throwback Friday, Sundown’s Flight


Last week, my poems were about nature’s theatrical light shows, and today’s Throwback poem is a very appropriate choice. Originally written in August 2019, and as is my way, I have rehashed my poem …



Sundown’s Flight


When I’m physically able
And feeling stable
I like to stroll down my dead-end lane
And study the sky’s weather vane


I see twilight clouds on the run
Being corralled by the setting sun
Shredding prisms of light, tonight’s benediction
Bright orange and grey, tomorrow’s ritzy prediction
From the horizon’s flamboyant ballet
A jazzy indication that storms are on the way


Then the shadowed treeline, merges with the cloudy red kites
And I stand here witnessing sundown’s dazzling flight












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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) August 2024

Throwback Friday, Jack’s Back

It was a frosty Zero degrees this morning, so this Throwback poem from July 2022 was today’s appropriate choice



Jack’s Back 

 

I woke at dawn 
And there was Jack  
Laying on my lawn 
 

Good morning, Mr. Frost 
I am at a loss 
With the ground so white 
And the air’s bitter bite 
Why are called Jack? 
The Jacks I know from the outback 
Are all warmhearted folks  
And happy-go-lucky blokes 
Not cold-blooded guys 
Baptized by frozen skies 

Are you a naughty and chilly skite? 
Or a noble defender of the night 
Jack! Today at first light 
You gave my warm toes an icy fright 













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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) July 2024

Throwback Friday, Knots On Blue Paper Lines

This week’s Throwback Friday poem has been hidden away for five years and is not in any of my published books. I originally wrote the piece in August 2019 and “as is my way” I have revised the poem for today’s article.



Knots On Blue Paper Lines

Eyelids are heavy and tired
Overcome by the dazzle of razzle
My palms are open but empty
Anxiously yearning to turn another page

This mind of mine feels worn and torn
Time is constantly tick-tocking away
Chiming between today and tomorrow
While the poet’s pen is scrawling
Knots on blue paper lines
Hanging them out, to dry and die

My arms are quietly fluttering
Searching for yesterday’s wings
As I meander through my journey
Pondering how much reality stings


I think the lyrics of the ‘Airbourne Toxic Event’s’, song below, are profoundly outstanding and well worth reading as you listen to the tune.”












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Perceptions:

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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) July 2024

Throwback Friday, Arriving and Leaving, Visiting Her

Featured Collage Above: the photos were taken by Derrick Knight, and kindly with his permission, he allows me to reproduce them here in collaboration with my poems. >> https://derrickjknight.com/2023/03/12/a-frantic-baaing/

Hi, dear readers and followers, the Book Launch of “Until Eyes Hear Sound” is next Wednesday, and today’s poem “Arriving and Leaving, Visiting Her” was selected by Robbie Cheadle as her favourite poem in her wonderful review of my book …
https://writingtoberead.com/2024/04/17/treasuring-poetry-meet-prolific-poet-ivor-steven-and-a-review-poetry-poetrycommunity-treasuringpoetry/
My April Treasuring Poetry guest is the talented and prolific poet, Ivor Steven. Please enjoy his thoughts about poetry and some of his favourite poems.”



Arriving and Leaving, Visiting Her (page 102)

arriving
via the cemetery gate
holding her flowers
hands quivering
heart quickens
bowing silently
reminiscing
smiling
wondering why
closing time
and visiting time
co-exist in life

leaving
via the cemetery path
renewing goodbyes
crying silently
breathing slowly
smiling
wondering why
closing time
and visiting time
co-exist in life











Ivor Steven (c) July 2024

Throwback Friday, Invisible Miracles

Two weeks to go until the ‘launch party’ for my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”, and today’s Throwback Friday poem is in Chapter 7, (Memories and Rhymes) page 95, of the Book, and I wrote the poem in January 2021.






Invisible Miracles



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












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132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
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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) July 2024

Throwback Friday, Birds in Flight

On my morning walkies with Frankie, I like trying to photograph birds in flight, and since my book launch for “Until Eyes Hear Sound” is only 3 weeks away, I thought I would repost my poem “Birds in Flight” (Chapter 1, page 14)





Birds in Flight


Our spirit birds sleep all night

Then emanate at first light

To resume their dedicated flights

Our watchtower sentinels of Mother Earth

Who sacredly ascend at first light

Forever in flight, since nature’s worldly birth









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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) July 2024

Throwback Friday, Two Haiku Written by Frankie

Frankie had his ‘Winter Groom’ this morning… and the two Haiku below were written by Frankie in April and June 2023. All the attached photos were taken during today’s grooming session.




My Haircut (a Haiku by ‘Frankie’, April 2023)

“I was too woolly”
That is what my master said
“Have you seen my coat?”









My Winter Haircut (a Haiku by Frankie, June 2023)

“Haircut time Frankie”
“Hey boss, it’s zero outside
Winter is still here”









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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) June 2024

Throwback Friday, Bohemian Lyrics

Today’s Throwback Friday poem is not on my Website but appears in my book “Tullawalla”, Chapter 6, page 101, and I wrote the original version in October 2019.



Bohemian Lyrics

What we imagine
And what is real
Are not the same deal
Dust, life’s spicks and specks
Are blended inside the earth’s vortex
We are only our solar system’s subjects
And beyond gathering grey clouds
There is, the stars sheltering shroud

Whatever the words, let them roll
Whatever the feelings, let them be our soul
Old lines drawn in the sand
May be erased by forgiving hands
Gaea’s liquid words caress the air we breathe
Capturing chords within the whispering trees

Time deflects in the end
Time rewinds and amends
Love is the world’s unwound relic
Love is an empty hearts’ bohemian lyric










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Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
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Until Eyes Hear Sound

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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) June 2024

Throwback Friday, Patiently, I Am Waiting

A poem I wrote in April 2021, about waiting for the Publisher to do the edit corrections and have my “new” book (Tullawalla) printed and look the way I wanted it to be!



Patiently, I Am Waiting

Patience drifts around the clock
Patience floats in dry-dock
Patience hovers in transit
Patience belies my spirit

Patiently I walk
Patiently I talk
Patiently I listen
Patiently I have forgiven

Patience is the essence
Patience is my sentence
Patience is my burden
Patience is my warden

Patiently I wait
Patiently I update
Patiently I sleep
And alone I weep

Patiently I Compromise
Patiently I will arise
Patiently I reactivate
Patiently I will gravitate
Patience commands my time
Patience is my crime











All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
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11am-3pm

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 direct for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) June 2024