Poetry/Australia – Page 23 – Ivor.Plumber/Poet

No Anchor, No Breaks, No Parachute!

In response to Sadje’s, WDYS # 291
>> https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2025/06/02/what-do-you-see-291-2june-2025/
I chose her second image, “a shot of a full moon, and in front of the moon, you can see a plane traveling!“

No Anchor, No Breaks, No Parachute!

“Hit the ground running,” they say
Well, I hit Monday
Without a ripcord
On my parachute
It mysteriously disappeared
Out of touch, out of sight
I think I left my ‘safety chute’
At the Market on Saturday

I’m only half finished
My new project,
Shangri La, Volume 14
“We desperately need
a coffee break”, I said to Frankie
So, down to the ‘Cafe’ we went!

This old poet had to relax
And slow down the adrenaline flow
“What goes up, must come down.”

Hopefully, when I crush tonight,
The landing will be a smooth one

Ivor Steven (c) June 2025

An Inside Job

At Creative Geelong Makers Hub on Saturday, there was a rare opportunity when all the artists’ shops and studios were open on the same day.

Inside the MAY’D Shop.

The House, a community artistic centre and creative workshop.

The Hot House, the Hair Stylist’s Salon, and his Art Studio.

The Collectables Shop.

Vicky, who specializes in doggie portraits.

Joanne’s, Eco Artland, and Isobel and Sue’s Art Studios.

Wishart Creative and Untether Gallery

An Inside Job

I’m on the inside, looking out
North or south means nout
In here, there are no louts
Nor any sign of the drought

I’m doing a native walkabout
From shop to shop, lights on, or out
There is nothing to doubt or flout
Pins and needles, nails and clouts
Paint brushes and ceramic grout
Statues and clay waterspouts
Colourful cards and canvases throughout
A hairstylist, who paints during his timeout

I’m on a wondrous whirlabout
Trekking the Makers Hub route
Like a curious Boy Scout

Ivor Steven (c) June 2025

A Technical Knockout

Today’s poem is from a poetic response that I post about ‘Violet’s’ emotive poem >> https://violetslentz.home.blog/2025/05/27/pink-slip-2/

And over at Weekly Prompts, it’s the last weekend of the month and time for their One Day Prompt! To visit their fabulous site, please click on > Here

A Technical Knockout

When you’re down and out
feeling like a dry river-bed trout
flipping around after an endless drought
And you’re in the vacant corner of another losing bout
There’ll be one day, without doubt
you’ll have nothing left to shout about

Please, I beg, one last Guinness stout
before I get kicked in the spout
by Trump’s next lockout roundabout

After the ruthless rout,
when I blacked out
I was told by a local layabout
“there was no doubt,
the decision was a Technical Knockout”

Ivor Steven (c) June 2025

A New Anthology (a Tanka)

Feature Image: Please note that my copy of the Geelong Writers Inc. Anthology 2024 was signed by the editor, Judy Rankin, and Judy is also the publisher/editor of my 3 books, Tullawalla, Perceptions, and Until Eyes Hear Sound.

A New Anthology (a Tanka)

Through rain, hail, or shine
I am the messenger bird
I’ve important news
About the Anthology
Don’t let the wires clip my wings

And here is my poem from the Geelong Writers Inc. Anthology

Ivor Steven (c) May 2025

Throwback Friday, Odds and Sods, Spots and Blots

Today’s Throwback Friday poem is an odd collection of anecdotes from my hospital bed, written in December 2018. After I had just suffered a ‘minor’ stroke, and these were the jumbled thoughts that were tumbling out of my tired and confused mind …

Odds and Sods, Spots and Blots

Lazy Bones

Cordless phones
Garden gnomes
Overhead drones
Windowless homes
Creaks and moans
Lazy bones

Pain

Pain is like the rain
It comes and goes
Heavy and light

A Lie

It’s a lie that I don’t cry
It’s a lie that I passed you by
It’s a lie that I never tried
It’s a lie that I’ll never die

Mirror

Mirror, mirror, on the wall
You showed me how to stand tall
Again, it’s time for your call

Judge

I’m neither a judge
Nor a dealer in sludge
I’d rather eat some fudge
And give my side of life a nudge

Even Though

Love is all above thee
Love is a blanket of autumn leaves
Love showers us with glee
Love is everywhere, to feel and see

Ivor Stven May 2025

Autumn’s Dry White Clouds

Autumn’s Dry White Clouds

There is a cold, lonely wind blowing
Through the whispering tree tops
And here below the heavy blue sky
I am leaning like a knave bowing
Meanwhile
I see Autumn’s dry white clouds
Quietly drift away without waving goodbye

Mystified, I am wondering why
This season has been so dry

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >> Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

Perceptions:

Amazon >> Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >> Perceptions (lulu.com)

Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books

OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven © May 2025

Nature’s Seeds

In response to Eugi’s Moonlighted Musings Prompt
>> https://amanpan.com/2025/05/27/moonwashed-weekly-prompt-may-27-2025/

a simple flower
summons smiles
calming of the day

Let one or more words in my poem be your inspiration.
Prompt contributions can be any variation of the prompt and/or image.

Today’s short verse was originally written as a poetic comment to Sadje’s lovely poem >> When leaves become words – Keep it alive

Nature’s Seeds

May the world’s greed turn into earthly seeds
Nature’s flower seeds, wheat seeds, and tree seeds
And proceed to feed all those in need

Ivor Steven (c) May 2027

“Dusty Photos”, is in this week’s Coffee House Writers Magazine edition.

Hello, dear readers and followers. I write for Coffee House Writers magazine (USA) fortnightly, and my poem “Dusty Photos” is in this week’s edition. …
To read the poem, please click the link below to visit my Coffee House Writers Magazine article.
>> https://coffeehousewriters.com/dusty-photos/

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >> Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

Perceptions:

Amazon >> Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >> Perceptions (lulu.com)

Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books

OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com

Flying Away

Flying Away

A swift little fantail, or flashy wattlebird
A trusty magpie, or even a hardy crow
I’m not overly fussy or bossy

Actually, Air New Zealand
Was my preferred choice
Four hours to Auckland
Thirteen hours to Vancouver
Then a short trip to the Island’s
Victoria Airport

My hometown, Geelong
Is in the State of Victoria (Australia)
And here I am flying to Canada
Then, finishing up in Victoria

Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >> Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)

Perceptions:

Amazon >> Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >> Perceptions (lulu.com)

Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books

OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com

A Crazy Phase

A Crazy Phase

This morning I had a dream.
About flying north toward the sun
and travelling beyond the Rocky Mountains, trees

On my way there,
I dropped in to say hello to the moon
And I asked the moon.
“How do you cope when waning
to that crescent shape?”

The moon smiled and wryly replied
“Do not worry, my friend.
It’s a crazy phase I’m going through.”

Amble – The Boy Who Flew Away
Lyrics:

I’m standing staring at my feet
I can feel the eyes on me
Is that the boy who flew away
I wonder, is he free
I wonder, is he free

One will courage a handshake and smile
And say ‘oh boy, it’s been a while’
Cheeks will turn, my ears will burn
I’ll say ‘oh boy, it’s been a while’

Maybe flying was never my plan
To leave and return an older man
Have you ever thought
You pushed me away
I’m home now, with no place to stay
I’m home now, with no place to stay

Luke talks about lost and found
Maybe he meant found and lost
On Sunday eve, we’ll kill a calf
And deal with the family frost
And deal with the family frost

Luck will fall and ice will thaw
For the boy who drew the long straw
Bridges mend, and time is your friend
And home now will be Lán le Grá
And home now will be Lán le Grá

Maybe flying was never my plan
To leave and return and older man
Have you ever thought
You pushed me away
I’m home now, with no place to stay
I’m home now, with no place to stay

I’m standing staring at my feet
I can feel the eyes on me
I’m the boy who flew away
The boy who’s longer free

Ivor Steven (c) May 2025