Music – Page 115 – Ivor.Plumber/Poet

In Need of a Wise Owl

“In Need of a Wise Owl” is a poem from my book “Perceptions”, and I have scanned “page 4” directly out of my copy and reproduced it here, to give everyone an idea of how each page appears to the reader. The wonderful photos are by Derrick Knight (Southern England), and all have one of my Ekphrastic poems below the associated image. The fantastic cover artwork is by my amazingly talented niece Kerri (Bensalem, USA)

“Déjà Vu”. Lyrics by, Crosby Stills Nash & Young

One, two, three, four

If I had ever been here before
I would probably know just what to do, don’t you?
If I had ever been here before on another time around the wheel
I would probably know just how to deal with all of you

And I feel like I’ve been here before
Feel like I’ve been here before
And you know it makes me wonder
What’s going on under the ground, hmm

Do you know? Don’t you wonder
What’s going on down under you?

We have all been here before, we have all been here before
We have all been here before, we have all been here before
We have all been here before, we have all been here before

Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Perceptions-Ivor-Steven/dp/1387487302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RD27PWFI9JPS&keywords=perceptions+by+ivor+steven&qid=1676894211&s=books&sprefix=Perceptions%2Cstripbooks%2C1174&sr=1-1

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 2023

Walkie (a Haiku)

Walkie (a Haiku)

To explore his patch

He happily trots away

He then prances back

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://www.amazon.com.au/Perceptions-Ivor-Steven/dp/1387487302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RD27PWFI9JPS&keywords=perceptions+by+ivor+steven&qid=1676894211&s=books&sprefix=Perceptions%2Cstripbooks%2C1174&sr=1-1

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) February 2023

Infusion (a Tanka)

A big thank you to Dwight >> https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com/2023/02/24/we-cant-help-ourselves/ , his wonderful poem inspired this Tanka …

This week’s Weekend Challenge on Weekly Prompts is the word: WALKING. Please go and visit their fabulous site by clicking on this link >> https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/02/25/weekly-prompts-weekend-challenge-walking/
The featured photos attached were taken on my morning “walk” with Frankie …

Infusion (a Tanka)

Nature inspires us

mere mortals, through the bad times

live on and enjoy

times of preordained sunshine

that infuse our souls with light

Tullawalla is Available From

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

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) February 2023

Throwback Friday, The Time-Machine’s Secret Code, by Ivor Steven

Copied from my article on “Go Dog Go Cafe” today >>
http://godoggocafe.com/2023/02/24/the-time-machines-secret-code/

A Poem From Early March 2019:
Well here l am, back in hospital again and feeling anxious about whether I am going to be fit enough to fly to NewYork and Philadelpha in just seven weeks time.

The Time-Machine’s Secret Code (Revised)

I’m no stranger to this land

The warm hourglass sand

Is drifting past my hand

I’m no stranger to this room

Time has me back here too soon

I’ve yet to go on my trip to the moon

I’m no stranger to this road

Time has me carrying destiny’s load

I’m here after my latest episode

I wait for a new download

From the time-machine’s secret code

I’m no stranger to this hospital door

Again, I’m grounded in ward four

But I will beat this unheralded war

And the nurses will say hello, and goodbye Ivor

Tullawalla is Available From

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

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) February 2023

The Odds and Ends, I Send

A poem made up of anecdotes that I have written and sent to my fellow blogger’s sites, as replies to their articles/poems … In order of stanza appearance below,
– V.J. >https://vjknutson.org/
– Kate > https://aroused.blog/
– Beth > https://ididnthavemyglasseson.com/

This week’s Wednesday Challenge on Weekly Prompts is the word: CHANGE … here is the link to their fabulous site >> https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/02/22/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-change/ … and my poem today is a “Change” from what I normally write …

The Odds and Ends, I send

Our head reaches for the clouds

But our heart forgets to speak aloud

We are all little fish in a big sea

Swimming below the atmosphere

Created by nature’s life giving trees

Not all rocks

Are not just rocks

Some old rocks

When you study their socks

And listen to their knees knock

They “Have rocked around the clock”

Tullawalla is Available From

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

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) February 2023

Hear The Thunder

I came across this poem of mine today, a piece I wrote back in January 2019, while I was in hospital recovering from my 2nd stroke … maybe my dreams and visions were at bit blurred … but maybe they weren’t …

Hear The Thunder

My tired voice is crying out, “there’s no time to wait !!”

The people are pleading fromwithin their breastplates

We need to hear the thunder of peace bells ringing

Ringing to the crescendo of peace doves singing

The chimes are loud and clear

Loud enough for the universe to hear

Even through white marble walls

You’ll hear the thunder of the peace bells fall

We are gathering in every backyard

Every church hall

Every city street

Every farmers paddock

Every heavenly peace dove is escaping

You will see the doves flying high above

Even through the towers of tinted glass

You’ll see the peace doves soar

Even through their white marble walls

They’ll hear the thunder of the peace bells fall

Even through their towers of tinted glass

They’ll hear the crescendo of the peace doves call

Hear the thunder of peace bells ringing

Hear the crescendo of peace doves singing

Tullawalla is Available From

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

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) February 2023

When I Began, “It Was Just a Little Dream”

I am not sure how to explain my inner feelings within my heart today. I know Dad and Mum would be proud of my achievements, and that my Dear Carole would be crying tears of “Liquid Joy” for me … I received the most wonderful news today … my books “Tullawalla and Perceptions” have been accepted by the Geelong Regional Library, and will soon be available on Library’s bookshelves. A big thank you to Kim, the Collection Support & Information Services Officer at the Geelong Library, for accepting my books.
When I began writing (scribbling) poetry 22 years ago, not long after my first stroke, Leonard Cohen’s music and poetic lyrics had a huge influence on the emotions behind my words, and probably his song I have attached below, “One of Us Cannot Be Wrong”, still evokes my heart every time I listen to the incredibly beautiful lyrics.

It’s Just A Little Dream (Tullawalla, page 113)

I’ve been waiting inside
For that never-never ride
Wishing for that little shrug
To turn into a dream-time hug

I’ve been waiting outside
Trying not to hide
Wishing for that little smile
To travel one more mile

I’ve been waiting all-day
Calling out, please stay
Wishing for that little heartbeat
To lay down at my feet

I’ve been waiting all-night
For that one-way flight
Wishing for that little dove
To glide down from above

I’ve been waiting, seems forever
Crying quietly, oh, whatever
Wishing for that little embrace
To sleep with me, face to face

Tullawalla is Available From

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

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) February 2023

Birds on Fences, is in This Weeks Coffee House Writers Magazine

Hello dear readers and followers, I now write for “Coffee House Writers” magazine on a fortnightly basis, and my poem “Birds on Fences”, is in this week’s edition of Coffee House Writers Magazine. … please click on the link below to view my poem, at Coffee House Writers. >> https://coffeehousewriters.com/birds-on-fences/

Birds have commandeered my poetic imagination lately.

Tullawalla is Available From

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

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) February 2023

A Sapphire Blue Canopy

At Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word: Treasure. Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here . Below, my poem “A Sapphire Blue Canopy”, is about the ‘treasure’ of our morning sky.

A Sapphire Blue Canopy

Above the shimmering horizon

Daylight’s glow resolutely grows

Like a rising ocean tide

Strutting over hot sand

The sunrise swaggers

Up through the clouds

Vividly vapourizing

Their hypnotic silver linings

And progressively exposes the sky’s

Sapphire blue canopy

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/

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) February 2023

Schoolyards and Lizards, is up at Spillwords Magazine.

I am ecstatic that my poem “Schoolyards and Lizards”, has been accepted and published in Spillwords Magazine today, and I am very grateful to the editor Dagmara for selecting my piece … Please go over and visit my poem at Spillwords and if you wish, leave a 💓 for my article, by clicking on this link >> https://spillwords.com/schoolyards-and-lizards/

Featured Image Above: Spillwords Magazine – 1536×813

My photo of, “Richard the Lizard, a wise and withered Wizard”

Schoolyards and Lizards

Enter Richard the lizard

A wise and withered wizard

Who stealthily slithered and delivered

His magic beyond pandemics and blizzards

Recreating a safe haven

An unsmeared and inured schoolyard

To be shared by the children

Without the National Guard

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/

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) February 2023