As the crow flies
I’m only a stone’s throw away
From here to beyond the skies
Out to the universe’s Milky-way
Where my dream never dies
I’ll keep dreaming
Until I burst at the seams
Drowning all doubters
In my custard and cream
Don’t misjudge my usefulness
Worn is not torn
With love and tenderness
Worn can be reborn
Your spear is the size of a harpoon
Plunging into my tethered heart
Take my leftover hand
Die with me
Burn our crosses
We’ll apply to the devil for a restart
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Do you know what I mean
I’m compelled
Not impelled
I’m in a grind
Singularly blind
Do you know what I’ve seen
I’m a slow swimmer
Crawling up river
Mating salmon passing me
Rapids casting me out to sea
Do you know where I’ve been
I’m a lost driver
Unable to deliver
Words unheard, you didn’t read
Wasting another living tree
Do you know what’s the time
I’m now unrequired
Thirsty and tired
Standing on a dry river-bed
Waiting for a dream instead
“I Need You”
When you’re feeling like a lover
Nothing really matters anymore
I saw you standing there in the supermarket
With your red dressing falling and your eyes are to the ground
Nothing really matters, nothing really matters when the one you love is gone
You’re still in me, baby
I need you
In my heart, I need you
Cause nothing really matters
I’m standing in the doorway
You’re walking ’round my place in your red dress, hair hanging down
With your eyes on one, we love the ones we can
Cause nothing really matters when you’re standing, standing
I need you, need you
Cause nothing really matters
We follow the line of the palms of our hands
You’re standing in the supermarket, nothing, holding hands
In your red dress, falling, falling in, falling in
A long black car is waiting ’round
I will miss you when you’re gone
I’ll miss you when you’re gone away forever
Cause nothing really matters
I thought I knew better, so much better
And I need you
I need you
Cause nothing really matters
On the night we wrecked like a train
Purring cars and pouring rain
Never felt right about, never again
Cause nothing really matters
Nothing really matters anymore, not even today
No matter how hard I try
When you’re standing in the aisle, and no, baby
Nothing, nothing, nothing
I need, I need, I need you
I need you
I need you
Just breathe, just breathe
I need you
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
I hear the wind whistling in the trees
Rustic sounds of rustling leaves
Swirling down through the branches
Prancing colourful dancers
Faery’s of the forest floor
Mother nature’s spiritual encores
I hear the wind applause for more
Seasonal breezes carrying pollen spores
Germinating ancient lands over the eons
Eden’s garden of blossom and vines
Serving our tables full of apples and wines
I hear the wind whispering memories and rhymes
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
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’m cosy and comfortable
wearing the same old shoes
talking and walking her every mile
she’s in every covering 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
flowing through my pumping veins
cascading upon my open heart
caressing my solitary core
embracing our glorious souls as one
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
The sun is shining, the day is grand, I found our Anniversary band, made of pure silver, here in my hand, I’ll mount it on a stand, like the day she placed the gift in my hand, hand in hand we still stand, our feet sharing the warm sands, yes my memories are grand, so let’s strike up the band.
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Three decades I cared for her
My loving wife
Tending to her sorrowful erosions
We sailed many stormy Seas together
Crashing waves upon crushing waves
She was battered
I was torn
Miraculously we survived
Our wounded hearts grew closer
I admired her courage and grace
I worshipped her unabated love
Then her finality occurred
Our souls have never parted
Entwined, the same as when we started
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Do you see above the horizon
A bright white winter moon
Silhouetted against the afternoon sky
Do you see my vision
A dark blue dusk, like a cloudless spoon
Cupping my angels ivory chalice ahigh
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
There was a raging storm last night, I struggled to sleep, I was in and out of my dreams, and during my semi-conscious times, I jotted down these lines.
I remember the day
Like it was yesterday
A cold morning, ten o’clock
I, a shadow in the paddock
Standing beside a giant pylon
I looked up to heaven
Straight up the tower
The tower of power
Crosses of galvanized iron
Shiny under the winter sun
Wind whistling through its huge steel web
Howling like hades walking dead
And demons screaming in my head
My spirit begun climbing the spire
Clambering higher and higher
Up the pyramid of life’s wires
Desperate, I grasp at my ultimate desire
A visionary mission before I die
To embrace a piece of my angels sky
To the amazing Leonard Cohen, I thank you for being the inspiration behind my writings, over and over your words and songs have soothed the depths of my soul, and again you’ve caressed my heart during my times of sorrow, bless you, up there in your tower of song.
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
FIFTY YEARS AGO — WE SANG THIS SONG
“I See The Universe In A Blade Of Grass” **
I’m exhausted
And wearing paper-thin
I’ve been crying too often
My salty tears
Have dried my skin
Cracked the corners of my eyes
And etched my chin
My retina’s are burning
X-rays through hedges
My troubled bridge is worn
I cannot see the dawn
I sit alone and stare
At this daily glare
From the children over there
Innocent eyes looking sad and bare
Desperate for care
Gasping for free air
** These words are taken from a line in Sean Rowe’s song, The Lonely Maze, 2012.
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Dear friends
Last night I went out
Enjoyed myself
Good company and plenty of fun
There were some children there
I saw the children laughing
At the foolish antics
Of us silly adults
I arrived back home
After midnight
Then I read in bed
Some of my blog comments
Responses to my recent poems
About “We can help the children”
I was deeply touched
I started crying
Emotions tore at my heartstrings
Tears flooded my soul
Your replies were sincere
And compassionately moving
Dear friends
I thank you
One and all
May our solidarity
“Help the children”
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 