Tag: Life & Nature

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

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








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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 © May 2025

Flying Away





Flying Away

A swift little fantail, or flashy wattlebird
A trusty magpie, or even a hardy crow
I’m not overly fussy or bossy

Actually, Air New Zealand
Was my preferred choice
Four hours to Auckland
Thirteen hours to Vancouver
Then a short trip to the Island’s
Victoria Airport

My hometown, Geelong
Is in the State of Victoria (Australia)
And here I am flying to Canada
Then, finishing up in Victoria







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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 © May 2025

The Horizon’s Encore (a Tanka)


Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word Silhouette. To visit their fabulous site, please click on >>HERE
I have not mentioned the word ‘Silhouette in my poem, but after sunset,
the sky is covered in colourfull ‘silhouettes’.




The Horizon’s Encore (a Tank)


Half an hour after
The sun’s disappearing act
The horizon’s lights
Refused to exit the stage
When Twilight called out for more







Ivor Steven (c) May 2025

A Crazy Phase






A Crazy Phase



This morning I had a dream.
About flying north toward the sun
and travelling beyond the Rocky Mountains, trees

On my way there,
I dropped in to say hello to the moon
And I asked the moon.
“How do you cope when waning
to that crescent shape?”

The moon smiled and wryly replied
“Do not worry, my friend.
It’s a crazy phase I’m going through.”





Amble – The Boy Who Flew Away
Lyrics:

I’m standing staring at my feet
I can feel the eyes on me
Is that the boy who flew away
I wonder, is he free
I wonder, is he free

One will courage a handshake and smile
And say ‘oh boy, it’s been a while’
Cheeks will turn, my ears will burn
I’ll say ‘oh boy, it’s been a while’

Maybe flying was never my plan
To leave and return an older man
Have you ever thought
You pushed me away
I’m home now, with no place to stay
I’m home now, with no place to stay

Luke talks about lost and found
Maybe he meant found and lost
On Sunday eve, we’ll kill a calf
And deal with the family frost
And deal with the family frost

Luck will fall and ice will thaw
For the boy who drew the long straw
Bridges mend, and time is your friend
And home now will be Lán le Grá
And home now will be Lán le Grá

Maybe flying was never my plan
To leave and return and older man
Have you ever thought
You pushed me away
I’m home now, with no place to stay
I’m home now, with no place to stay

I’m standing staring at my feet
I can feel the eyes on me
I’m the boy who flew away
The boy who’s longer free




Ivor Steven (c) May 2025

Throwback Friday, What Is Normal, My Son?

Today’s Throwback Friday Poem is from July 2020, during the middle of the ‘Covid Era’, but I think my words could now be applied to the ‘Trump Era’


What Is Normal, My Son?

Breakfast and a hot cuppa
Under my cosy verandah
As per normal, if it’s not too chilly
And I’m having my normal courtyard chat
With my friends, Phillip the penguin
And the wise old owl, Oscar
We’re talking about the future
Whether life will ever be normal again

Oscar quietly hoots
“What is normal, my son?”
Little Phillip chirped in
“Normal is a state of mind
A comfort zone in time
Like swimming in the deep blue sea every day.”
Oscar agreed with Phillip
“Normal’s been perched in the same tree every night.”
Oscar and Phillip grinned and nodded at each other
And I listened and pondered

Smiling at my two furry companions
I added, “Our old normal won’t be normal anymore.”
Oscar’s brows lowered, and he said
“As per normal these days
We shall patiently try to adapt, then wait and see
What colour will the new normal turn out to be
Black, white, or green like the trees
Maybe the striped yellow of our life-giving bees”





Ivor Steven (c) May 2025

Close Up and Personal (a Tanka)

gentle eye perceives
melodies of ideal worlds
through a magic lens

Moonwashed Musings >> https://amanpan.com/2025/05/20/moonwashed-weekly-prompt-may-20-2025/

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


Close Up and Personal (a Tanka)

Through the magic lens
Of my iPhone camera
I get to observe
My world’s colourful sunsets
Right close up and personal






Ivor Steven (c) May 2025

My Universe, or: Here, There, and Everywhere





My Universe, or: Here, There, and Everywhere


It’s a glorious autumn morning
And here I am
Standing in the middle
Of my universe
Between the bright sun to my right
And the deft daytime moon on my left

Oh, I should say, east and west
Because when I turn around
To walk toward the north
East and west are
Here and there
No matter the where

And the middle of my universe
Is always here, like a wet-nurse
For better or worse








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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 © May 2025