A Heartless Bastard

I’m watching the crowd strolling by

Masks are casually dangling like schoolboy ties

And now I see everyone’s smiling faces

Winners are grinners and free to go places



We endured lonely lockdowns and restriction dangers

Then successfully obeyed the rules of our Lone-Rangers

And bravely negotiated the low tides of dark seas

Today community happiness bows and greets me

The Covid bastard is drowning in our summer breeze

And together we have beaten a heartless disease



Ivor Steven (c) December 2020.

Heartless Bastards. Lyrics
“Skin And Bone”

Spent my time here as a child,
And now I’m passing through here and it’s all coming back again.
Dilapidated buildings down on Main.
This small town was crumbling down, it was hard for me to stay.

And, oh, I, I find after all this time,
I am back here filled with all these memories.
Bittersweet, my home skin and bone.
This rust has worn through tearing up beneath the seams.

Driving down Salem Avenue.
It’s all so familiar now, but so many things have changed.
And the rain came down all around.
Washed away the industry, washed it to the sea.

And, oh, I, I find after all this time,
I am back here filled with all these memories.
Bittersweet, my home skin and bone.
This rust has worn through tearing up beneath the seams.
And, oh, I want it to be like when I was young.
Oh, I want it to be like when I was young.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Hazelnut & Cranberry Meringue Cake



I am needing the solace of my courtyard

When will life’s tasks become too hard

Am I finally to be considered too old

Despite my partial return from the cold

I am not to worry nor feel sorry

The winding road home is in no hurry

And I detour off my rocky path

To rewrite my wordless epitaph

Here in the comfort of my favourite Cafe

With a sweet cake and a soothing coffee

And enjoy a chat with the friendly waitress Alex

Then I recite this poem, she smiles, and we both relax




Ivor Steven (c) December 2020

Yesterday’s Storms

I wrote this poem after reading Ali Grimshaw’s post/poem this morning, and as I sometimes do, I commented on her piece with a poetic anecdote. You can view Ali’s site and poem via clicking on this link >> https://flashlightbatteries.blog/2020/12/05/weather-forecast-poem-by-ali-grimshaw/


Yesterday’s Storms

today words fell off the weatherman’s chart

some misty clouds with rainbow arcs

there will be windy circles and sunny parts

dotted isobars will blow over old landmarks

bringing bold fronts and false starts

with possible heavy rain and lightning darts

and yesterday’s storms were pieces of dark art

that passed through our hearts




Ivor Steven (c) December 2020

The Faerie Shelter



The Faerie Shelter



Beyond the hands of time

In a garden of parsley, sage, and thyme

Live faeries of magic and rhyme

Dancing in the midnight faerie pantomime

Under the moonlight they rollick and roam

Among reeds of the field-mouse’s old home

Where Oscar the owl broods atop his mushroom

And the dragonfly Danielle hovers above Alex the gnome

He is the courtyard’s guardian colossus

Who proudly shelters Saraswati the Hindu goddess

And she dutifully protects the shy penguin Phillip

The humblest faerie of them all, but he stands tall in spirit





Ivor Steven (c) December 2020

Every Ordinary Day

My poem here today was inspired by Colleen’s thoughtful post “Every Ordinary Day”, please click onto this link to read her article >> https://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com/2020/12/01/every-day-ordinary/

Every Ordinary Day

If you look up

There is air and sky

If you look backward

There goes the sunset

If you look forward

Here comes sunrise

If you look sideways

There shines the fullness of day

Look and you will feel

Nature sharing her love

Look and you will hear

Her crescendo of life’s adrenaline




Ivor Steven (c) December 2020

Sharing Every Ordinary Day

Over on Weekly Prompts this week, the Wednesday Challenge is the word Sharing! Please go over and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> Here 
My poem here today was inspired by Colleen’s thoughtful post “Every Ordinary Day”, please click onto this link to read her article >> https://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com/2020/12/01/every-day-ordinary/


Every Ordinary Day

If you look up

There is air and sky

If you look backward

There goes the sunset

If you look forward

Here comes sunrise

If you look sideways

There shines the fullness of day

Look and you will feel

Nature sharing her love

Look and you will hear

Her crescendo of life’s adrenaline




Ivor Steven (c) December 2020

My Addiction

Fact or fiction

Whatever the diction

Words without friction

That is my addiction



Emotions from the heart

My love potion of remarks

From sweaty nightmares of blue sharks

To walking on dreams in Central Park



Words surviving my writing cramps

Evolving beyond sirens and flashing blue lamps

From bygone dreams of empty homes

To climbing a mountain of slippery stones



Ivor Steven (c) December 2020.

The Hummingbird Knows

This week the Weekend Challenge from Weekly Prompts is, Snippet. Please go and visit their fabulous site by clicking >> HERE. And below is my little snippet of a poem, in response to the ‘Weekly Prompt’


The Hummingbird Knows

I’m searching for a safe nest

a place for my weary wings to rest

a hostel for the hovering bewildered

above the rainbows where eagles soar

beyond the clouds silver linings

away from the world’s selfish cravings

a symphonic haven for my soul to call home

where the hummingbird knows the words for my poem



Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2020

Giving Thanks


Love lives on and on

In the tune of every birdsong

And friendships warm the soul

Like the sun warms our body



Love lives on and on

Memories and rhymes remain strong

Love is within our heart

Love is there to be shared

Like the blood in our veins

Love is made for transfusions



Love has been there all along

Love advances right over wrong

Love lives within our sins

Love lives within everything




Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2020

Life’s Baggage


Baggage on a rough ocean, rattles

And snaps like a snake dressed in black

However the angry waves will bite back

And drown the leftover sacred battles



Baggage is only a temporary state

Between carrying life’s extra weight

And waiting for life’s next update



Baggage, imagine the stories

Imagine the hidden dreams

Imagine love bursting at the seams


Ivor Steven (c) Nov 2020