Tag: Music

Forever is a Long Time




I received some special news during the week

A thing that happens to most books and their authors

But for this old poet the occurrence has extra significance

My wonderful editor/publisher, Judy

Deposited my books, Tullawalla and Perceptions

With the Australian National Library, for archiving


The books and me (Ivor Steven) as the author

Are now forever a part of Australia’s Artistic history

Not bad for the descendant of a convict

Yessiree!

I can almost hear them cheering and clapping





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) July 2023

Back On The Tools. (adapted from “An Old-time Plumber”)


Sorry to my readers and followers for my lack of blogging this week … The old plumber/poet traded his quill in for his old rusty spanner and dirty hammer …
Drawing Above: done for me in 2017 by, Rose – https://poetrummager.org/


Back On The Tools. (adapted from “An Old-time Plumber”)


Could I actually do the task?

Am I physically strong enough?

Am I mentally sharp and able enough?

To endure four to fives days of hard work?


Surprise, surprise, I have survived the first three days

Job is nearing completion and the clients are suitably pleased

And I am home beside the heater and enjoying a red wine

Although when I finished it was already dark

And my back was stiff as red-gum bark

But a job stamped by my old-time quality trademark









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) July 2023

A Ladybug Flies in From Bensalem

I have just completed the second edit and redraft of the manuscript for my book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”, and officially the poem below, will be the Book’s opening poem in, Chapter 1, ‘Little Creatures and The Birds


A Ladybug Flies in From Bensalem


A scarlet caped ladybug

Lands on my sleeve and gently shrugs

Resting there, snug as a bug on a rug

And honouring me with love and soft hugs




Nature’s tiniest of goddesses

Who fans us with butterfly kisses

Kindly sharing good fortune and best wishes

Then quietly fluttering away to the next Hibiscus





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) July 2023

Moon Shadows (a Tanka)





Moon Shadows (a Tanka)




Both the evening moon

And the bright afternoon moon

Decorate my room

With gray slithery shadows

That dance across my pillows







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) July 2023

I Am An Emotional Guy 

Sun is shining on our table … Frankie perusing my poem … Frankie gives me that look

I Am An Emotional Guy 

 
 
We are at the Café 

Sheltering under the verandah 

The winter sky is gray 

And drizzly rain gently  

Dribbles across our table 

Then the sun streaks through the clouds 

 

I am listening to music by, ‘Sigur Ros’ 

And out of nowhere 

I start sobbing rivers of tears 

I am an emotional guy 

Teary during the worst of times 

Or even at the best of times 

 

After you watch the Sigur Ros video below 

You might appreciate why I cried so instantly! 

I found the “Andra” audio/music/video to be very touching 

I do not understand the lyrics 

But I do comprehend the sensitive nature 

Of their passionately emotive music 

 

The table napkins were handy 

For wiping my watery eyes 

My Pal Frankie, knowingly smiles at me  

As the dappled midday sun 

Slowly dry these smeared words 

That splashed across my blue lines 








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) July 2023

Geelong Writers, Winter Solstice Challenge, in 22 Words

My poem “Winter Slaps Autumn in the Eye” was one of 17 selected for publication in the Geelong Writers, “Winter Solstice Challenge” Brochure. Below is a photo of how the poem appears in the Geelong Writers Brochure




Winter Slaps Autumn In the Eye (a Tanka)




Time shortens in stride

Autumn leaves pepper the ground

Winter slaps the sky

Midday sun closes her eyes

Naked trees wisely survive







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) June 2023


Throwback Friday, Who Hears Me?

Today I am presenting another poem that will be appearing in my new book “Until Eyes Hear Sound”. I wrote ‘Who Hears Me’ in February 2021, and the poem will be the opening piece in Chapter 5. Observations, “Until Eyes Hear Sound”



Who Hears Me?

My ears are funnels
But I do not want to hear
The voices

My lips do part
But I do not speak
The words

My knees do bend
But I cannot sit
While I can still stand

My eyes are open
But I do not want to see
My shadow falling




,


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) June 2023

Twilight’s Bookends, Published by Geelong Writers, in AnoMaly Street, Anthology

This evening I went to the book launch of The Geelong Writers, Anomaly Street (Poetry With A Difference), a twice-yearly collection of poetry that creates jolts for flatlined minds, and to the editor, Jo Curtain, for selecting my poem. Below is a photo of the poem’s presentation in the book … (my scanner is broken)









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) June 2023

Only One Day of “Voting” Left … Lines To Nowhere, has been nominated for Publication of The Month of June, at “Spillwords Magazine”


If you wish to “Vote” for me, you can vote here: https://spillwords.com/vote/

I am proud to announce that my poem “Lines To Nowhere” has been nominated for Publication of The Month of June, at “Spillwords Magazine”. A big thank you to the editing team at Spillwords for the nomination, and hearty congratulations to the other Nominees.
    
Voting will cease on 6/29 and soon after we will reveal the winner.
Please note, you need to register and/or login to vote.

The winning publication will be featured on Spillwords.com sidebar during the entire month of July!

HERE ARE THE NOMINEES:

Mid Week by Roy Eisenstein
Lines To Nowhere by Ivor Steven
Mermaids & Miracles by Ann Parker
The Sunset, The Beach, The Stars, and The Midnight Sky by Michelle Ayon Navajas
When You Find Your Center by Kate Leo
Darker The Water, The Deeper The Deep by Gerry Stefanson
Joy by Daniel Clarke-Serret
The Centre of My Universe by Jane Bradshaw
Two Faces by Chris Corbett
Dead Man’s Hand by Kerr Pelto
At 28 Weeks: When Reality Shifts by Erin P.T. Canning
And All That Jazz by Angela Huskisson
Piggy by Zach Zajac
Dress Rehearsal by Jon A Lunsford

Good luck to all!




Lines to Nowhere 

As my drapes fell apart 
I saw a setting eclipse 
And I decided to walk 
To the south side of the moon 


Carrying my plastic spoon 
There, a giant vanilla cheesecake 
Rolled over the crusty moonscape 
On a giant crumbly base 
Topped with blueberries and cream 
Laying here in bed, life is but a dream 

The evening skyline begins to drool 
Am I, a full moon’s fool? 
I will meet you at the old school 
Down by the empty pool 
This time we will not be ridiculed 
 
  
Ivor Steven © June 2023. Spillwords Magazine, New York  







Ivor Steven(c) June 2023

Free Like a Bird





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

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) June 2023