There’s a Penguin In My Courtyard

Today I was struggling for a title and the wording of my 2nd line, but after a chat with a friend of mine, a well known poet, who’s, “Living on the equator and longing for snow”. and she inadvertently inspired me, to come up with the title, and complete my second line….

 

There’s a Penguin In My Courtyard

 

my courtyards a frozen pond

cold enough for a penguin

shrouds of ice lay upon the ground

and a crisp sharpness cuts the sound

of the birds unthawed songs of silence

as fernery fronds curl in glaciated defiance

and in the corner there’s a frostbitten spider’s web

while frigidly rigid is the succulent flower bed

above there’s the sun’s ambient saffron disc

the dawn’s prediction that golden days do exist

 

Ivor Steven (c) June 2020

My Scenic Saturday

The Weekend Challenge on Weekly Prompts is, Scenic. Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here … Below is my photographic article in response to the prompt…

My Scenic Saturday

 

After writing my daily poem in the morning, I then pottered around in my courtyard garden, however my fingers were becoming frozen from the frosty dawn, and I decided to delay the potting, until after going out for my usual Saturday coffee and cafe visit, to the scenically rural Box Office Cafe. The above photos are from my lunchtime visit today. The winter sun was starting to warm me up, and on viewing my photos, you’ll understand, (maybe), why I frequent this quaint and rustic establishment….

It was definitely a lot warmer when I arrived home. Last week a friend of mine made me two wall hanging racks out old wooden pallets. I hung them up during the week, and today was my day to fill the two pallets with plants… The below photos, were taken after I finished the potting and planting…. and I’m very pleased with the gorgeous ”scenic” outlook of my small but vibrant courtyard…

 

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  June 2020

Under Pressure

Here I’ve written a Haiku Trio, a poem consisting of three haiku stanzas

*Please note, the above photos, are scanned images, from the book in my personal library, called “Close To Nature”, by John Landy

 

Under Pressure

 

Bitter is the clown

A broken pepper stays down

Anger’s every town

 

Flames leap all around

Burning bridges to the ground

Hatred is the sound

 

High above the clouds

Songs echo under pressure

Screaming for new air

 

 

Ivor Steven (c) June 2020.

Day Lily, Love and Another Year

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The above photos, are of mine & dad’s, colourful and spectacular Day Lily, which is now in full bloom. Personally this plant is the King of my garden, and he was originally my dad’s pride and joy, and I rescued the Day Lily from my parents homestead in Ocean Grove, (“Tullawalla”), and of course I enjoy a strong spiritual connection with this lovely flower, especially this time of the year, as the Day Lily blooms to coincide with the anniversary of my dad’s birthday, eleven days ago…..

 

Day Lily, Love and Another Year

 

Upon my pillow I sleep.

Good morning, I do peek.

From the cushion of my dreams.

To my yard’s radiating beams.

Of blushing red hues, oh so bright.

You flower during the night.

And after cuddling the dew.

You open up your scenic view.

Blooming, standing proud and steep.

Vivid perfection at my feet.

A glorious Lily, like wings of a dove.

And by day you air your love.

Ivor Steven (c) Feb 2020

A Red Bouquet

 

A Red Bouquet

 

The dawn sky’s a misty red

Mirroring my eyes, etched edges of red

T’was my dad’s anniversary yesterday

And I didn’t go to visit her, during the day

She adored dad, my darling redhead

So best I vacate this lonely bed

And select her some blooms from my flowerbed

 

My courtyard’s a sea of dazzling reds

A vivacious Begonia, called a Dragon Wing Red

Our gifted Geranium, glows a deep ruby red

And dad’s Day Lily, is a glossy red

I’ll create a bright red bouquet from the three

And place the flowers in our vase under her tree

 

 

Ivor Steven (c) Feb 2020

A Courtyard Of Dreams

Hello readers, I’m able to do a bit of copy and pasting, without straining or tiring myself out.. enjoy…

A Courtyard Of Dreams

 

Children can be childish, resistant and defiant

Adults can be childish, arrogant and ignorant

 

I’ll keep my old heels on the ground

While I’m able to see the difference

Between blue, green and brown

 

With love, there comes hidden trials of hurt

With denial of love, there’s only dust and dirt

 

A heart’s love, is true tenderness

Do not wait for tomorrow

There will not always be, that life’s sweetness

One day your soul, will know true sorrow

 

 

Moving On, by Leonard Cohen:  Lyrics

“Moving On”

 “I loved your face I loved your hair
Your t-shirts and your evening-wear
As for the world the job the war
I ditched them all to love you more

And now you’re gone, now you’re gone
As if there ever was a you
Who broke the heart and made it new?
Who’s moving on, who’s kiddin’ who?

I loved your moods I love the way
They threaten every single day
Your beauty ruled me though I knew
Twas more hormonal that the view

Now you’re gone, now you’re gone
As if there ever was a you
Queen of lilac, queen of blue
Who’s moving on, who’s kiddin’ who?

I loved your face I loved your hair
Your t-shirts and your evening-wear
As for the world the job the war
I ditched them all to love you more

And now you’re gone, now you’re gone
As if there ever was a you
Who held me dyin’ pulled me through
Who’s moving on, who’s kiddin’ who?

Who’s moving on, who’s kiddin’ who?”

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019

 

Glass Slippers and a Yellow Taxi

Last night, I misplaced my glass slippers

When the golden chariot, turned into a yellow taxi

And I had no faerie godmother to guide me

She was riding her whale, and had drifted out to sea

 

My recital evening, wandered through crystal glee

Recalling live music, and chalices of cheer

The singer Tennyson, finished and noticed me

After a warm handshake, we talked about being free

And discovered, we mutually liked the band ‘Dirty Three’

Then I exchanged, a Tullawalla poetry booklet, for his CD

 

Thank you to Tennyson King and his bass guitarist James, for giving of their time, and being genuinely friendly. During our conversation, I found out he’s a Canadian, from Toronto, on a 3 month tour of Australia.

 

And below a song from ‘Dirty Three’, that maybe I’ve not posted here before…

Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019