Behind the Blinds, We Hear the Music
We are relaxing at the Box Office Cafe
The rustic venue is nearly full
Despite the day’s wintry wind
Everyone is warm and comfortable
Behind the verandah’s new protective blinds
We are listening to a glorious song by Sigur Ros
Playing to a happy community gathering
At a bucolic open-air stage in Iceland
And the stirring concert auspiciously reflects
The collective ambience of our surroundings
Ivor Steven (c) July 2023
My poem/Tanka today is a direct comment/response to Derrick Knight’s fascinating post this morning >> https://derrickjknight.com/2023/07/13/dads-best-morning-of-the-week/ … and thank you to Derrick for allowing me to use his wonderful photographs here on poetry site.
The Admiral Butterfly(a Tanka)
Like a butterfly
In his changing surroundings
“Dad’s” curiously
Fluttering over the ground
Observing what’s going on
Ivor Steven (c) July 2023
Free Like a Bird (a Tanka)
He is standing there
Longing to fly with her soon
Wings begin flapping
And up he gracefully soars
Spiraling toward wisdom
Tullawalla is Available From
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Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com
Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’
AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:
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Ivor Steven (c) June 2023
A Frozen Sundial (a Tu-aiku) my name for a Dual Haiku
Breathing in Iciles
Zero is not amusing
Frost covers my world
My sundial’s stopped
Beneath a sheet of white ice
Frozen within time
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/
OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c) June 2023
Today my ‘Throwback Friday’ poem, is from June 2019, and again, as is my way, I have slightly revised the original piece.
“I went to my favourite lunch-spot today, the Moorabool Valley Chocolate Cafe. I have not walked that far (the weather has been dismal), since I’ve been home from my trip to Philadelphia. Surprisingly I handled the long walk reasonably well. Then I sat down for a coffee and a piece of tasty blue-berry cheese cake. The winter sun was gorgeous, out on the outdoor balcony, and I happily observed a pair of Weebill birds, as I continued to write this poem(Below).
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?
Ivor Steven (c) May 2023
My imperfections
Are perfectly camouflaged
Underneath the trees
Where moon shadows protect me
From the world’s imperfectness
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:
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c). December 2022
Today’s poem is one that I wrote while attending a “Writing Circle” meeting, hosted by the talented and gracious, Ali Grimshaw … If you are interested in attending one of her fabulous on-line “Zoom Sessions”, you can visit her site by clicking on this link
>> https://flashlightbatteries.blog/
Logically, I Am Here
Nonsense and logic
What is the difference?
In our world today
A forest breeze
Caresses my senses
Like flowering gum-trees
Free up my defenses
I love nonsense
Is it my best sense?
My most creative sense
Is it my good mood sense?
Free of commonsense
And government expense
Ivor Steven (c) February 2022
Please Note: The Idyll winery estate, located in the picturesque Moorabool Valley area, is only 15 km from my front door, and are well renowned for their award winner Cabernet Sauvignon blends … 2021 – New York International Wine Competition – Idyll Victoria Cabernet Sauvignon – Gold
Waiting In Line
lazing in a valley of vines
under the summer sunshine
with a bottle of Idyll wine
drank in no time
dandy and sublime
heeds no rhyme
beyond an imaginary climb
along the river of time
that awaits a final line
after life’s closing pantomime
Ivor Steven (c) January 2022
Featured Image Above: Of the Kananaskis Mountains, Alberta, Canada (West of Calgary), taken by my uncle, Dick Meyer (Dec.), from August 1997 …
From The North
Winter will not die
Nor relinquish his title
Without a cold blast
Howling over frozen bones
Of ancestors who have passed
Ivor Steven (c) January 2022
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 