No More Sugar and Spice





No More Sugar and Spice

Under the dry sky’s grey umbrella
I saw a small flock of noisy Corellas
Forlornly fossick for leftover shoots
In between the naked tree roots
And the paddock’s desiccated ground
Sadly, there was no dried-up spice to be found

The drought’s hungry field mice
Had devoured everything nice








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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

Hope (a Haiku)






Hope (a Haiku)

I see peace and love
Here, on the wings of the dove
Where hope never dies








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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

Sunday Shroud


Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word Obsession. To visit their fabulous site, please click on >> Here.
Some people say that I am obsessed with taking photos of the daytime moon … which is probably true, but in my poem today, I am using the ‘moon’ as a metaphor for ‘Easter Sunday’ …




Sunday Shroud

now you see me
now you don’t
I’m as pure as the driven snow
and I covertly nudge my way
through the cumulus clouds
looking for that opening in the sky
where I can display my Sunday Shroud
and dispel that dreaded prophecy
“He does not return”






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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

Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku

Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku, Releasing After Easter

I’m delighted to be part of the ensemble of poets featured in Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku, published by Literary Revelations Publishing House. This beautifully curated collection brings together the voices of over 240 haiku poets from around the world.

The anthology features stunning cover art by renowned Japanese painter Hikari and fine-art photography by acclaimed artist Naoki Kimura. Tranquility will be released soon after Easter—stay tuned!

Blurb:

Following the overwhelming success of «Petals of Haiku,» which captured hearts and souls and became an Amazon bestseller, Literary Revelations Publishing House brings you “Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku.” This new anthology will enchant the readers with its delicate imagery and transitory moments, which inscribe themselves in eternity. Featuring nearly 240 talented authors, each bringing their talent and unique perspectives, Tranquility invites you to immerse yourself in a world where night flowers bloom and whispers linger in the spring air.

Poets are prophets linked to nature. In Tranquility, Haiku is their language.  – Gabriela Marie Milton, author, editor, publisher

Here is one of my Haiku from the Tranquility Anthology:




Angel 

My tranquillity
Has wings and glides in heaven
Free like an angel





Ivor Steven © April 2025

Rivers (an Etheree), A Poem of Mine From the Anthology, Poetry Treasures #5

Today, I am presenting one of my poems from the Anthology, Poetry Treasures 5, Small Pleasures

Available on Amazon Australia.

https://read.amazon.com.au/kp/card?preview=inline&linkCode=kpd&ref_=k4w_oembed_FQVBLMYIzEkmgj&asin=B0F414XWQY&tag=kpembed-20

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




Rivers (an Etheree)

how
do the
rivers know
they ebb and flow
over old sandbars
where footprints come and go
fresh today, gone tomorrow
lost under the currents of time
dreams grow below clouds of hazy rain
leaving new watermarks in their shadows






Ivor Steven © April 2025

The Sound of the Full Moon’s Aura






The Sound of the Full Moon’s Aura

Did you hear, during the night
The sound of the full moon’s ambiance
Oh, what a fantastic sight
Embracing the world’s circumference
With an aureola of light

I was tired and overwhelmed
But now I’m positively feeling alright
Knowing, I have my guiding light at the helm







.


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

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







.


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






.


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