Tag: Life & Nature

Wings of Peace (A Tanka)




Wings of Peace (a Tanka)




I’m ready to fly 

Away, from this ravaged land

Where can peace be found? 

Are my wings sturdy enough? 

To carry freedom’s torn flag





Hoppipolla, by Sigur Ros

Hoppípolla is a beautiful and emotional song by the Icelandic band Sigur Rós. The title itself is a delightful blend of words: it’s a univerbation of “hoppa í polla,” which translates to “hopping into puddles” in Icelandic. The lyrics of the song are mainly in Icelandic, but they also include some nonsensical phrases in a language the band calls Vonlenska or “Hopelandic.”
The essence of “Hoppípolla” captures the carefree joy of childhood—the moments when we find delight and freedom by jumping in rain puddles. It’s a celebration of innocence, playfulness, and the simple pleasures of life. 🌧️👣




Throwback Friday. My World, My Thoughts


My Throwback poem from September 2021 was originally titled “Worlds Beyond Thoughts”, however, when I published the piece in my new book “Until Eyes Here Sound” I altered it to “My World, My Thoughts”

My poem today is made from a list of comments that I have left on fellow ‘Bloggers’ sites, and in order of stanza appearance, these are the writers’ sites for you to visit.

Bart – https://bartbarkerpoet.com/
Sadje – https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/
Punam – https://paeansunpluggedblog.wordpress.com/
Sadje – https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/

Annette – https://aikalandros.com/
Dwight – https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com/
Michelle~M – https://herwritinghaven.com/
Catxman – https://catxman.wordpress.com/
Mark – https://havocandconsequence.wordpress.com/

Cindy – https://uniquelyfitblog.com/
Carol – https://therapybits.com/
Cassa – https://flickerofthoughts.com/
Windwhisperer – https://wildwindwhisperer.wordpress.com/



My World, My Thoughts



Laws are merely guidelines

For the arrows of love to climb

Mirror mirror on the wall 

Recalls our joys and falls 

Behind every mask, there is a weathered face 

Behind every face old lines survive in place 

Behind every place memories live with grace 

Evil eyes lurk in veiled skies


The wisdom of native ancestors should be listened to

And not be lost to the modern ways of this arrogant world

The way of modern progress

Is to leave nature shamefully undressed

Nature and renewal walk down the garden path hand in hand

I hear church bells ring 

I see the mice die 

And the clouds always cry

Keep the cup full, turn the power on

And the answer will come 


  

Like a big jigsaw puzzle

Not all the pieces will fit back

And overall the world will look the same

I cannot dwell on what has been 

While I feel my blade of grass is alive and green

Above and beyond the crusty dirt 

The universe is a symphonic concert

They say that the truth hurts

Beware of cold desserts








Ivor Steven (c) March 2024
.. 

Heat Wave




Heat Wave




My bedroom felt like a furnace

As rays of molten light

Penetrated the blinds


The midday sun pelted down

And a heat haze shimmered across the land

As the hot northerly wind fried

The sticky sweat on my brow








Until Eyes Hear Sound
Not available on Lulu or Amazon yet … but you may purchase it from me, via this web page or my email >> ivorrs20@gmail.com

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com



Ivor Steven (c) March 2024

Our Kingdom in the Sky (a Tanka)


Our Kingdom in the Sky (a Tanka)


Up there above me

I feel the sun within me

In the same blue sky

I see the moon watching me

The universe protects me




“There Is a Kingdom” Lyrics by Nick Cave

Just like a bird that sings up the sun
In a dawn so very dark
Such is my faith for you
Such is my faith
And all the world’s darkness can’t swallow up
A single spark
Such is my love for you
Such is my love

There is a kingdom
There is a king
And he lives without
And he lives within

The starry heavens above me
The moral law within
So the world appears
So the world appears
This day so sweet
It will never come again
So the world appears
Through this mist of tears

There is a kingdom
There is a king
And he lives without
And he lives within




Ivor Steven (c) March 2024

How Far Must I Fly?

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word: Timeworn. You may visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here
My poem is about the “Timeworn” cry for PEACE …



How Far Must I Fly?




The earth is a worn and bloodied mound

Time for me to leave this tormented ground

Before the new world destroys every living tree

And the arising desert dunes drown me


I will soar beyond the Golden Fleece

Avoiding the manmade black cables and wires

That carries those unheeded calls for peace

Silent messages that forever swoon above alien skies


How wide and how high must I fly?

Until the sounds of war

Empty from my crying eyes








Until Eyes Hear Sound
Not available on Lulu or Amazon yet … but you may purchase it from me, via this web page or my email >> ivorrs20@gmail.com


Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com




Ivor Steven (c) March 2024

 “The Dark Chasm”, is in this week’s edition of Coffee House Writers Magazine.

Hello dear readers and followers, I am again writing for “Coffee House Writers” magazine on a fortnightly basis, and my poem “The Dark Chasm”, is in this week’s edition of Coffee House Writers Magazine. …
To Read my poem, please click on the link below to visit the article, at Coffee House Writers Magazine.
>>https://coffeehousewriters.com/the-dark-chasm/







For, Coffee House Writers Magazine
By, Ivor Steven (c) March 2024

Sharing My Coffee and Cake

Max the magpie joins us and then starts nibbling on my cheesecake.

Max slurps up the cream, as Frankie nonchalantly looks on





Sharing My Coffee and Cake


We were at the Moorabool Valley Cafe

For an afternoon coffee and cake

Unexpectedly, a feathery friend joined us

Max, the Cafe’s resident magpie


While introducing ourselves

In the blink of an eye

He leaned over and began nibbling

At my chocolate cheesecake and cream


Peck, peck, his beak dipped in

And soon his nose was covered in cream

Meanwhile, Frankie nonchalantly looked on

As Max mischievously gave me a wink and a nod

Before jumping across to the next table







Until Eyes Hear Sound
Not available on Lulu or Amazon yet … but you may purchase it from me, via this web page or my email >> ivorrs20@gmail.com

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com


Ivor Steven (c) March 2024

Snippets of Rhyme





Snippets of Rhyme

 

Glowing from behind the trees

I saw the sunset, so bright

Or did I see the trees

Reaching up, in front of the light

 

Dusk is like a Venetian blind

Narrow ingots of time

Casting snippets of rhyme

Upon my black and white lines







Until Eyes Hear Sound
Not available on Lulu or Amazon yet … but you may purchase it from me, via this web page or my email >> ivorrs20@gmail.com

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com


Ivor Steven (c) March 2024

Grey Clouds Have Rainbows





Grey Clouds Have Rainbows


The night is not always dark

You know

The moon has a bright side

The other side hides

in the Sun’s shadow


An icy pond’s reflection

Has the wrong image

Of whom was right

And grey clouds have rainbows




 




Until Eyes Hear Sound
Not available on Lulu or Amazon yet … but you may purchase it from me, via this web page or my email >> ivorrs20@gmail.com

Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’

AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com


Ivor Steven (c) March 2024

White Stone (a Senryu)

Timeless white headstones

Guarding the ground of old souls

Loved ones’ final home





“Headstones”, Lyrics, Lake Of Tears

Past the forest of the flies of fire
Beyond the waters of shimmering tears
By a fire they stand
And they whisper my name

Now I seek upon the night
Small fragments of moonlight

Up the hill the headstones lie
Up the hill the reapers watching eye
Up the hill the headstones lie
Headstones…

In the circle of stones dressed in ivy
By the garden of the serene flowers
And the spirits are there
Whispering my name

Now I seek upon the night
Small fragments of moonlight

Up the hill the headstones lie
Up the hill the reapers watching eye
Up the hill the headstones lie
Headstones…




Ivor Steven (c) March 2024