today there’s menacing trouble
one day we’ll fly out of our bubbles
hopefully people’s profanity
and selfish insanity
will cease after the matinee
and they’ll resurrect humanity
there shall be more grief
but there will be relief
when love will grow closer
between barriers and the waiter
in my courtyard you’ll exist
in the green leaves of hope
in my heart you’ll exist
in the hum of my souls hope
Featured Image: My fernery’s, Philodendron selloum, called ‘Hope’
Ivor Steven (c) April 2020
This weekend the Saturday challenge from Weekly Prompts, and their monthly colour challenge for April is: Xanadu. Please go and visit their fabulous site by clicking > HERE
Above Images: Photos from my fernery, of the Philodendron Xanadu.
A Luxury of Green, Xanadu: A Cinquain* poem
Ancient
Kubla Khan times
A Palace of beauty
Mystical Xanadu city
Did thrive
*A Cinquain is 5 lines:
Line 1: 2 syllables
Line 2: 4 syllables
Line 3: 6 syllables
Line 4: 8 syllables
Line 5: 2 syllables
And here’s my favourite “Green” song, Leonard Cohen’s ‘Leaving Green Sleeves’
The muted day is ambling by
Grey clouds blowing in the sky
Banks of rain tears are flowing down
I’m sheltering under my iron crown
I wonder about today and tomorrow
When are we to reappear from our burrows
Winter approaches to cool the ground
Autumn colours are vanishing uncrowned
The super-bug remains lingering in the air
And Scientist are striving to snuffle this virus affair
Ivor Steven (c) April 2020
This week’s Wednesday Challenge on Weekly Prompts, is the word WARY. Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here . Below is my poem about being ‘Wary’
You Cannot Shoot Or Electrocute It
I see grey clouds drifting across the sky
And I hear the great white bear continue to lie
You cannot shoot it
Nor can you electrocute it
I cannot hear your bullets blazing
Nor can your bombs do the erasing
Your insincere words cannot stop it
I’m wary of your falsehoods, that hide it
I cannot see your pain and fears
Nor can I see your sympathetic tears
Your money keeps you safe in the ivory tower
But will your money send the people flowers
Ivor Steven (c) March 2020
Bob Dylan, wrote these profound lyrics 50 years ago…
“All Along The Watchtower”
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.
A poem for Gina, a hard working angel at the hospital. Last night my dreams echoed her kindness….And a big thank you to everyone working in the health care system.
Her Kindness
I can hear storm clouds rumbling
But I cannot hear the darkness
I can see a tired sun fading
But I cannot see the gloominess
I can say help those who are crying
But I cannot say I am fearless
But I will not sit and be silent
My hands ring the bells of kindness
Ivor Steven (c) March 2020
This weekend “The Weekly Prompt” challenge is slightly different from the norm; They have chosen a question, and the question is ‘What is it?‘ Please go and check out their fabulous site by clicking >>HERE…. Above, in the Feature Image, is my photo of “What is it?” , and below is my poem about the object in the photo ??
What? Escalation Again
Is this the germ?
That mysterious virus
Or maybe the cure
Our miracle antibiotic
Why profoundly round?
A slippery pill of renown
Why be so colourful?
The answers a rainbow, upside down
Red’s for blood
Yellow’s our solar sun
Blue for the ocean that surrounds
What about the black crosses?
Sorry, the gravestones
Representing the losses
An insightful imagination
Of a sixteen year-old
During the cold-war escalation
His world then, was young and bold
Ivor Steven (c) March 2020
nature’s coloured curve
the bow, for all heart’s arrows
openly received
Ivor Steven (c) March 2020
Over on Weekly Prompts, this weekend’s challenge is: Leap. Please go and visit their fabulous site by clicking >>HERE
Yesterday (Saturday), I went to Geelong’s annual Pako Festa event, a gathering, celebrating the colourful multicultural societies that live in harmony within Geelong’s community. These people who have come from all around the world, have taken a giant leap of faith to resettle their lives here in Geelong. There were over 25 different nationalities represent in the glorious parade, and I’ll let my photos below do all the talking today….. I hope there’s not too many photos, but as you can imagine the parade took well over an hour to go pass me !!
Ivor Steven (c) March 2020
During the last 3 weeks, I’ve been fortunate to receive a number new books for me to read. In the photos below, the first 3 books, are the ones I’m looking forward to reading soon, and the bottom 3 books, are the one’s that have my poems published in them.
Ivor Steven (c) Feb 2020
This week’s midweek challenge on ‘Weekly Prompts’ is: BIRD FEEDERS. Please go and visit the fabulous “Weekly Prompts” site by clicking >> Here
I don’t own a bird feeder as such, but I suppose my verandah roof acts as my permanent bird feeder. Seeds from my neighbours trees seem to naturally end up landing on my verandah roof. The birds can be quite noisy feathered friends, as they clatter around on my verandah. … but while they are busily chomping seeds on my roof, the birds are forgetting to feast on my ripe ‘Rapunzel Cherry Tomatoe’ bush, and some of my readers, might remember what happens to those who steal from ‘Tomatoe Bush’, for a reminder, you can peruse at this link to that post >> https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2018/03/27/how-many-books-do-i-take-on-the-cruise/ …….”BEWARE”…….
Featured Image Above: My verandah roofer, the birds feeding area…!!
Below: My 9ft tall Rapunzel Cherry Tomatoe Bush, higher than the guttering.
Below Left: The cherry tomatoe crop Right: Tomatoes in my Asian salad
Ivor Steven (c) Feb 2020
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 