The Tanka is a relatively new poem format for me and I think “A Window Stain” that I wrote back in January 2021 was my first Tanka.
A Window Stain, (a Tanka)
Evening tears ebb through
the window of last year’s stain
Fear closes the latch
Tonight, the moon is brighter
Today the pane is clearer
Tullawalla is Available From;
Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com
Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’
Ivor Steven (c) November 2022
Today I run a Book Stall at the Pop Up Creatives Market here in Geelong (Newtown), along with the help of my Editor/Publisher, Judy. We didn’t sell many books, unfortunately the rainy day keep the patrons away. However my “Poem, Lucky Dip Bag” proved very popular, and we got to meet and chat with those who stopped by, and number a them opened up the poems and read their ‘lucky’ Tullawalla piece for me, and the smiles on the readers faces made my day …
The Market and my “Lucky Dip Bag”
Some of the other stalls
The stall opposite us. … Me and Judy behind our book stall display.
Overall, we had a very pleasant day at the Market and hopefully, I will be given another chance again soon …
Tullawalla is Available From;
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Tullawalla-Meeting-Place-Memories-Rhymes/dp/0645377023/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SX7VLARQ6RDK&keywords=tullawalla+by+ivor+steven&qid=1668595900&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjMzIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&s=books&sprefix=Tullawalla%2Cstripbooks%2C286&sr=1-1
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c) November 2022
The article I posted on “Go Dog Go Cafe” today >> https://godoggocafe.com/2022/11/18/throwback-friday-itmims-ivors-time-machine-in-micro-space-by-ivor-steven/
“Itmims” is a poem I wrote in December 2018, when I was hospital, in an ‘Isolation Room’, and Itmims space craft was my imaginative means of escaping confinement.
Itmims (Tullawalla, page 60)
Welcome aboard my bubble ship, Itmims
Come fly with me into the unknown
We shall traverse time and space
Across the borders of level seven
Beyond the boundaries of intelligence
We’ll discover the story of Tullawalla
Capture the heart of a beautiful red-head
Learn about her journey of grace and bravery
Understand the depth of your soul
Show others what happens to the heart
Find your star, your colour, your lost art
Walk deserts in space, swim the Milky-way
Breathe the air I breathe, see what I see
Feel her soft red hair, on your cheek
Step inside my Itmims, sharing love on the high seas
Tullawalla is Available From;
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Tullawalla-Meeting-Place-Memories-Rhymes/dp/0645377023/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SX7VLARQ6RDK&keywords=tullawalla+by+ivor+steven&qid=1668595900&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjMzIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&s=books&sprefix=Tullawalla%2Cstripbooks%2C286&sr=1-1
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com
Today I am revisiting this post from 3 months ago, … I really liked the articles overall Presentation and pizzazz
This poem is made up of four separate comments that I have written on my fellow blogger’s articles.
The Title: Lori >> https://ecopoetic.wordpress.com/
First Stanza: Claudia >> https://humoringthegoddess.com/
Second Stanza & Finale Stanza: Colleen >> https://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com/
A Writer’s Wondrous World Watchfully Waits Where Wisdom Willingly Wanders Within Wizardry Walls
Once upon a midnight
After visiting Poe’s Raven site
My dark dreary nightmare took flight
And left me with a fluttering sprite
Over the many years of self-doubt
There is now no doubt
I have learned to strive beyond doubt
And accept my worthiness without doubt
Within us there is a small piece of air
Available for our soul to give and share
However most of our soul is there
For our self-love and self-care
Tullawalla is Available From;
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Tullawalla-Meeting-Place-Memories-Rhymes/dp/0645377023/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SX7VLARQ6RDK&keywords=tullawalla+by+ivor+steven&qid=1668595900&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjMzIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&s=books&sprefix=Tullawalla%2Cstripbooks%2C286&sr=1-1
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven © August 2022
old father time
has caught me
on the hop
my annoying limp
has become more pronounced
as of tomorrow
I shall be shuffling
down the street
with a walking stick
in the left hand
and my doggie
pulling my right side
to balance me up
with assurance
a handy aid
to help reduce
my chronic back pain
Tullawalla is Available From;
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Tullawalla-Meeting-Place-Memories-Rhymes/dp/0645377023/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SX7VLARQ6RDK&keywords=tullawalla+by+ivor+steven&qid=1668595900&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjMzIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&s=books&sprefix=Tullawalla%2Cstripbooks%2C286&sr=1-1
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c) November 2022
Here my “Steve the Snail Story” is from a comment I left on Colleen’s thoughtful article yesterday >> https://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com/2022/11/14/any-of-the-story/
Steve the Snail. His Story
I wonder what the story was
Why was Steve the Snail?
Crossing the wet bitumen road
There, by himself
Bravely and slowly sliding along
Determined to reach the other side
Steve’s path was a dangerous one
But the purpose of his journey
Remains locked away
Within the privacy
Of his ‘one-story’ home
Ivor Steven (c) November 2022
The weekend challenge on Weekly Prompts is: Urban. Please visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here … Below is my response to their prompt, and the poem is also included in my new book “Perceptions”, due to be released in early December
Featured Image Above: by Derrick Knight >> https://derrickjknight.com/2022/04/28/across-the-stream/
Perceptions
Urban Glare (Perceptions, page 43)
Down into the valley
I wander
Away from urban glare
Beyond reach
Of those who do not care
About nature’s faded flare
Along a cool creek
I wander
Away from urban air
Beyond sight
Of those arrogant stares
Who do not see nature’s plight
Ivor Steven (c) November 2022
Today’s piece was inspired after reading Robert Okaji’s wonderful poem “Ro”, please go and visit his fantastic poetry site by clicking on this link >> https://robertokaji.com/2022/11/11/ro-5/
Note: Ro designates the fingering required to produce a particular note on the shakuhachi, the traditional Japanese bamboo flute. In this case, closing all holes.
Feature Image Above: With the kind permission of Robert Okaji, the image was copied from his post “Ro”
Flute (Ro)
the melody lingers
beyond soft fingers
above the hollow
a note was borrowed
by the former mentor
you are not the lamenter
please return
to the aspiring sender
Ivor Steven (c) November 2022
Incandescent moon
Illuminates the hallway
Beyond the keyhole
Ivor Steven © November 2022
Hello dear readers and followers, I am pleased to announce that I have managed to produce my “Thirtieth Tullawalla” Booklet … For new readers that don’t know about these booklets, they are basically the reason why I write poetry. I produce these ‘home-printed’ booklets for the sole purpose of raising funds for my favourite charity organisation, the MS Society, in Australia via the MS Charity Shop here in Geelong. And actually all money’s I receive for any of my poetry .via, submissions, I donate to the MS Society…. I’m proud to announce, that the sale of my “Tullawalla Booklets”, have now gone pass $1500.00, … to all the lovely readers, who have donated, to help achieve such a wonderful amount, a big heartfelt thank you, from “us” and the MS Society … …..Incredibly, there is now a total of “1303 poems”, Yep, over “A Thirteen Hundred Poems” in my collection/series of “30” Tullawalla Booklets. After 3 months, this booklet is finally completed, and ready for sale now !! As always, they are available for purchase, either as a hard copy ‘Booklet’, or a PDF format….. All proceeds go to the MS Charity Shop, here in Geelong West….. Please contact me here through my website page and I can chat to you about arrangements from there…. Oh, the booklet is called “Tullawalla, Miles From Home”… And here is the link to my website >> https://ivors20.wordpress.com
Miles From Home
Now
He gives me that inquisitive stare
“Don’t look at me like that
I know mate, I know
I should never have left the wife”
Today
I went left, instead of right
No matter what direction
Or decision I choose
At the end of day
There will be night
My time to rest
And remain out of sight
Tonight
I will sleep under the stars
With my loyal companion
By my side
Tomorrow
I shall take the backroads
Miles away from my troubled life
Miles and miles
Beyond those days of strife
Ivor Steven (c) November 2022
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 