‘Til Death Do Us Part

Back on the 2nd of May 2012, I thought this poem was going to be the last piece I would ever write … finality for my wife was near, and my mind was adrift on the horizon. … little did I know, that in few months time, her spirit and enthusiasm for life, would become the inspirational source for the revival of my poetry writings, and now a decade later “Carole’s” amazing zest for life, still influences my every thought behind the words I write …

‘Til Death Do Us Part


She’s there, in that tall pale building of brick.

Where the Nightingales care and tend to the sick.

She’s there, away from home and her comforting bed.

Where the Doctors try to fix the endless ills from her head.


She’s there, and her absence reminds me of future plights.

Where my anxieties for her her well being endure her fight.

She’s there, and I need to visit her all day, and every night.

Where the distance to reach her soul is out of sight.


She’s there, and I’m wondering about that far away dome.

Where her lost personal affection would leave her all alone.

She’s there, in those misty clouds, with church bells ringing.

Where she’s near to the sombre sounds of angels singing.


She’s there, and her constant pain remains tight in my heart.

Now I’m convinced, just like I said at the very start.

There’s no place like home for her gathering dark.

And I promise to her again, ‘til death do us part.






Ivor Steven (c) May 2nd 2022

Did Your Heart Stop Too?

Ten years ago today, it was the “Time” that I made a “heart stopping decision”


Did Your Heart Stop Too?


Did you cry too?

When the doctors told you

She was not going to recover


Did they ask you too?

About what you already knew

It was time

To flick the switch

And dim her light


Did your heart stop too?

Knowing

You had emptied her shoes


Did you sleep there too?

During those infinite days of blue

Softly holding her hand

And not letting go


Did you weep too?

Blankly alone

In her full room

Waiting

For her last silent breath






Ivor Steven (c) April 27th 2022

Rivers of Love, is up at Spillwords Magazine

I am ecstatic that during this month of personal remembrance for me, to have my special poem/Tanka, “Rivers of Love” published at Spillwords Magazine today, and I am very grateful to the editor Dagmara for accepting my piece .. Pease go and visit my poem at Spillwords and if you wish, leave a 💗 for my article, by clicking on this link >> https://spillwords.com/rivers-of-love/



Rivers Of Love (a Tanka, with an introduction quote)
Written by, Ivor Steven

How many rivers of tears must I cry. Before all the deepest wells run dry”Ivor Steven, May 2012


The hail’s coldness stings
An old wind pierces my eyes
As yesterdays tears
Etch raw ravines in my cheeks
Her rivers of love run deep






Ivor Steven (c) April 2022

A Universe Above The Sky

Walking in the rain

Wearing water-logged boots

I am dodging millipedes

And hopping over puddles

With the footpath crickets


I see a universe above the sky

As the liquid clouds

Drop their weight

Upon my empty hands

Filling them with verses

Of memories and rhymes






Ivor Steven (c) April 2022

A Third Eye is Watching 

Happy 75th birthday to my dear departed wife Carole, and I am also celebrating the 10th anniversary of her passing from this world.
Featured Image above: Is a collage I created from 2 of Derrick Knight’s photographs, and thank you to Derrick, for allowing me to use his photos here in conjunction with my poem. >> https://derrickjknight.com/2022/04/15/swarms-of-moths/



A Third Eye is Watching 


When your emotions begin to flow 

Do your senses amplify and grow? 


Bodily aches and mental strains intensify 

Your flooded brain feels like a third eye 

Wondering why? 

You are paddling knee-high 

In yesterday’s goodbyes 


Today my universe 

Hovers above my verse 

And there is no reason to cry 

While her soul resides high and dry



 




Ivor Steven (c) 17th April 2022

Concrete Void

Originally posted on my site, 27th November 2017.
Yeah .. my concete void has finally been filled ..


Concrete Void


I’m becoming impatient,

Here waiting,

Waiting for a concrete lid.

Too many stop signs,

And lifetime bans.

I’m a good man,

So I’ve been told.

But there’s a chasm,

And the concrete’s,

Yet to fill the void.

……..To my readers that knew about my new verandah, “now nine months old”, and sadly it has been without the patio/floor area being concreted for all that time..  Yippee, today the mission has been accomplished. Thanks to my newly appointed concreter “Damian Maloney”, Yep, he’s on my recommended list. And Lizzy The Lizard Of Wizardry, was curiously looking on…..

20171121_132650






Ivor Steven (c) April 2022

“Where Have All The Good Times Gone”

A few days ago(29th Nov 2017), I had started writing a poem about Penny Farthing Bicycles, prompted by an article in the Geelong Advertiser newspaper, the arrival in Geelong of eight members of the Melbourne Bicycle Club in March 1880, as per featured picture above, courtesy of the Geelong Heritage Centre Collection. Then I was chatting with my friend Jane of Janebasilblog, she had just sent me the song and lyrics of the Mary Hopkin hit, “Those Were The Days”, from 1968, and I mentioned The Kinks were one of my fav’s from that era, and of course their song “Lola”. After our chat, I starting thinking [which is dangerous for me] about writing a crazy, combined, mixed up poem… The piece below is the result of those thoughts, and to my older readers, you’ll notice all the phrases written in Italic, are song titles taken from The Kinks album “The Kinks Collection”. So apologies to Ray Davies for using his song titles in such a manner.

“Where Have All The Good Times Gone”


I remember the olden times

Of pennies and farthings

Pounds and pence

When money made no sense

Mary Hopkins sang

“Those Were The Days”

And the Kinks song “Lola”

Was the best number one ever

Many a lazy Sunny Afternoon

Spent down near Waterloo Sunset

Where we would all dance

All Of The Day And All Of The Night

My Friends would all dress-up

Like Dedicated Followers Of Fashion

Unlike that lonely Plastic Man

Who faked the Death Of A Clown

Way back then, You Really Got Me

You fired me up, here in Victoria

Thousands of Days forgotten in the burn-out

Charred in a cloud of Big Black Smoke

But now, I’m Tired Of Waiting For You

Wondering, Where Have All The Good Times Gone





Ivor Steven (c)

Originally Posted, 29th November 2017.  4.00pm

Any Afternoon


Mid afternoon

Here in my empty room

Between unruffled sheets

With the curtains drawn


I remember our matinee’s

Of laughter and soft sighs

You would tickle my feet

As I caressed your naked thighs


Tomorrow afternoon

There in my lonely room

Between unruffled sheets

The curtain falls at my feet







Ivor Steven (c) February 2022