picnic in the trees
among birds and butterflies
without council fees
Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021
picnic in the trees
among birds and butterflies
without council fees
Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021
On “Weekly Prompts” the Wednesday Challenge is, AUTUMN MAGIC. Please go and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here and the below poem is my response to their ‘prompt’ ..
Mad-hatters, No Matter the Season
The latter of matter
Did not scale the ladder
The origin of matter
Is in our hearts pitter-patter
Matter is neither flatter nor fatter
“What does it matter
If we are all mad-hatters”?
We are but leaves and twigs of the ground
Awaiting nature’s beckoning sounds
Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021
Again, many thanks to the editor Kristiana for accepting my poems, and for all her hard work in producing this beautiful anthology. The publication features the work of many talented poets, and I can’t wait to read my copy!
Issue III: hestia (hearth & home) is now available to download!
The digital download is completely free but if you wish to donate/pay as you feel, you can do so through the Donate tab.

Issue III: hestia (hearth & home) explores what home means to us all through poetry, prose, photography & artwork. Contributors reveal how it feels to belong, how we are defined by people and places and how Hestia’s legacy lives on.
Below, Home is the Air I Breathe, is the 2nd of my two contributions to this fabulous magazine
Home Is the Air I Breathe
welcome to our home
the house of rustic timber and stone
home is where my heart is now
and now I live here alone
but I am comfortable
wearing the same old shoes
walking her every mile
she’s in every corner stone
she’s in the marrow of my bones
we share the air I breathe
inhaling her gracious spirit
capturing her living essence
absorbing her love into my blood
pumping through my empty veins
cascading upon my open heart
caressing my solitary core
embracing our souls as one
Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021
Featured Image credit; Maksym Harbar @ Unsplash
In response to Sadje’s Photo Prompt #Whatdoyousee – 101.
https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2021/09/27/what-do-you-see-101-september-27-2021/
“Sentinel” (a Haiku)
Ancient clock-tower
Rural city sentinel
Over cobbled streets
Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021
Eugi’s Weekly Prompt – “Connector” – September 23, 2021, click on the link to visit her fabulous site . >> https://amanpan.com/2021/09/23/eugis-weekly-prompt-connector-sept-23-2021/

Where to Now?
Where do they hide?
When the sea is at full-tide
What lays beyond the sand?
In foreign hands on distant lands
Their long windy road is untraveled
With trials of fear yet to be unravelled
Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021


Some Time Now
Today’s anniversary is fouty five yeas
A marriage of happy smiles, then sad tears
Our color is both red and sapphire blue
Representing the depth and stability of you
Anniversaries, they come, and they go
Some time now since that final May snow
Anniversaries, my soul does not let them pass
Some time now, I reminisce the last
Anniversaries, none ever forgotten
Some time now since your everlasting smile was taken
Anniversaries, over coral and every colour
Some time now since your tidal wave of valour
Anniversaries, when love grew stronger
Some time now since the years became longer
Anniversaries, covered by, love, suffering and pain
Some time now since our river flooded with rain
Your troubles fell, with an Autumn leaf
Forever enshrined, our promises of belief
Ivor Steven (c) September 10th 2021
Hello dear readers, I’ve been writing this poem over the last three days, and I was struggling to obtained any rhythm between thoughts and words, and then I saw a wondrous photo on Derrick Knight’s blog/website this morning, (which is my ‘Featured Image’ above), and his photo of the glorious old oak tree, immediately channelled my thoughts, into that of strength and resilience, and from there, my Title was formed, and my words started to become a more cohesive piece of poetry…. Thank you Derrick, for allowing me to use this beautiful and impressive photo, with my humble little poem.
Standing Upright
My heart’s bruised from bygone blood-stones
Threaded together by the spirits of old bones
And they’re resting within my ageing body’s soft clay
But I’m leaking, soulful droplets on sunny days
The world’s foul winds are blowing me off my feet
When I’m wobbling down cold and dusty streets
Then a modern medicine-man came with his young tribe
Re-tuning my rusty pieces, with rhythmical vibes
And they declared my cello strings, to be plucky enough
To handle tomorrow’s mystery masks and travellers handcuffs
Ivor Steven (c) August 2020
Here I stand
On my land
I’m the man
With a grand plan
Aiming for a longer lifespan
Maybe I’ll out live Tarzan
Even the abominable snowman
I’ll hop on a TV van
Become an honest anchorman
With his winter tan
The escapee of a lifetime ban
And I’ll turn into superman
Ivor Steven (c) July 2020
I’ve having a busy Wednesday. My Barwon (Geelong) Health, and Aged Care Plan, has begun today, with a morning visit from the nurse organising my plan, and this afternoon, the plan’s Doctor came to visit me, and from tomorrow, I’ll be having daily visits by physiotherapists and occupational therapists. .. The health program is design around keeping me comfortable and safe at home, and reduce the risks of further falls or accidents in the home… Don’t worry, I am reasonably healthy, and I’m happy to be within this scheme, which is about looking after susceptible older persons living by themselves, and after my recent episodes, I’m in that category…. So my time here on WP has been limited today, and will be for a couple of weeks, as get used to health plan’s orientation and introduction…. Haha,.. having said all that, I had time to write this Haiku at lunchtime, a piece which had been drifting about in mind….
Drifting Forward
Cleanse our dirty clouds
Saturate the stains with rain
Wash away this pain
Ivor Steven (c) July 2020