Tag: Poetry/Australia

Under The Snow

A special poem I wrote, after I’d taken my Lady to hospital for the last time, on the day of her 65th birthday, eleven years ago. Hello Carole, and I wonder if you still wonder that I wonder, about wandering on your celestial star…….

Under The Snow.

We emanate to a birthday.

We deflate to a final day.

Birthdays, they all come, they all go.

Birthdays, in the sunshine, under the snow.

Birthdays, slow to mature, quickly an aeon.

Birthdays, before we are born, after we are gone.

Birthdays, hanging on by a breath.

Birthdays, nailed to a cross ’til death.

What’s it all mean to be alive and cry.

What’s it all mean to live and to die.








Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’


AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com  




Ivor Steven (c) May 4th 2023


Here I Am, Eleven Years On 

Today, May 3rd, is the eleventh Anniversary of Carole’s passing




Here I Am, Eleven Years On 


here I am shuffling on 

the same old yellow brick road 

that I wandered on eleven years ago 


here I am running from 

the same old dark storm 

that I escaped from eleven years ago 


here I am blushing under  

the same old halfmoon 

that I sheltered under eleven years ago 


here I am dreaming about 

the same old red head 

that I dreamed about eleven years ago 








Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’


AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com  




Ivor Steven (c) May 3rd 2023

Reflections & Revelations, The Short Of It, Volume 2

Forty-seven poets and writers with astute observations about living, emotions, and our world were featured online in The Short of It publication in 2022. The best of their thoughts fill the pages of this compilation. They will leave you with rich impressions, some providing mysteries to ponder but also many which speak deep truths. Each piece by the poets and writers presented in this collection shows us, with depth and succinctness, what was on their minds. Every one of their poems, as the title of this book suggests, brings to the surface their “reflections and revelations.”
A big thank you to Susi Bocks for editing and producing this outstanding Anthology, and I am proud to have been selected as one of many in a talented list of writers.
“The paperback version is available on Amazon.com NOW!! To get your copy, please CLICK THIS LINK! “




Here are my “Short” poetic entries in Anthology:


Facades

Wearing your best vest 
Is not necessarily a truthful test 
A facade for a restless chest

Again

Summer’s golden plains 
And stormy rains 
Erase winter stains

After Twilight

Starry, starry nights 
Shine on, shine on bright 
Please stay, please stay within sight 

Earthquake

I feel the earth quake
Fracturing tears off my soul
Tremors from my heart

Hail

Hailstones, hard as nails
Falling frozen razor blades
Storm’s icy sharp balls





Ivor Steven (c) April 2023

Afterglow

Put another log on the fire, while I travel to Tasmania with the two Philadelphia girls and three other Aussie cousins … Thursday 27th April – Monday 1st May


Afterglow 
  

 
 
After a frenetic time 

I feel like a burnt-out hollow log 

My charred core is clinging 

Onto nature’s dampened fringes 

Of Autumn leaves and fallen branches 

Where flora stealthily regenerates


 

Steadily, my diminished cavern 

Is growing wider 

And my ambient lantern 

Is glowing brighter 








Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’


AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com  




Ivor Steven (c) April 2023

Surprise Surprise!

I posted the below “Faeries and Books” article way back in December 2019.


Faeries and Books


Cousin Maureen, Christine(from Go Dog Go Cafe’s website), cousin Terri





Faeries And Books

Australia is a far away land

Only reached by ship or plane

Today, I saw the Ben Franklin Bridge at my door

Distant fairies were knocking, a message for Ivor

From my Philadelphia cousins, Maureen and Terry

They went to a Pop-Up Shop, a writers library

To meet Christine, our chief of  ‘Go Dog Go Cafe’

Who signed a book for me, and a joint photo for my display

Cherished Thanksgiving gifts, to make my heart beat

Now I’m looking forward to my cousin delivering the treats






“On Sunday, at the start of their stay, my cousins (The Good Faeries) Maureen and Terri, presented me with the signed copy of “Smitten” that they had purchased for me way back in November 2019 … I had totally forgotten about the Antology and their gift was truly a very pleasant SURPRISE!”





Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’


AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com  




Ivor Steven (c) April 2023

Throwback Friday, Time Travelers, original version – December 2017

For my readers, followers, friends and all those who doubt my connection to our unidentified Aliens, my “Mothership” landed for a visit today, to check-up on how I was handling the planet earth’s present dilemmas, and I’m afraid I had to report that the situation here is stagnant and quite grim. 




Time Travelers (Revised) 


Zap, a herculean lightning bolt precedes an astrological power surge

Traversing the cobalt skies, like gigantic electric eels

Vividly scoring chords, to hang our biblical words on

Like musical notes on lines of lost dreams and regrets


Soundwaves echoing, poles apart, going north, south, east, and west

Conducting iridescent aurora lights over our purple sunset

Vibrating quasars pulsating from deep inside outer space

Focusing on the huge magnetic Receiving Dish, signaling “An Arrival”


Recording a celestial traveler, singing with an angel’s voice

Resonating sweetly, like Handel’s, Messiah Hallelujah Chorus

Translated into the universal language of symphonic sound

Digitally simulcast and televised to the world’s population


A Super-Sonic Cosmic message to be heard loud and clear

“We have returned to your degraded planet earth

to again, bestow upon you, Peace and Goodwill

like we have done before, Eons of Millenniums ago”








Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’


AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com  




Ivor Steven (c) April 2023

The Other Side of Yesterday

The Other Side of Yesterday


 

“Have I come to the end of the road”

I asked the forest’s guardian toad

He quietly replied

“There is always another way

like there is always another day”

 

Here, is not where I need to stay

I would like to cross the river today

To redefine the other side of yesterday

When life’s narrow causeway

Lead me to her underground doorway









Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’


AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com  




Ivor Steven (c) April 2023

Perceptions, Photos From the Book Launch

The book launch day was a great success with a good attendance and many books were purchased and I gratefully signed them all. Thank you to Judy, Maureen, and Maja for sending me the photos.

I’m doing the introductory thank you’s with Frankie’s help …

A happy and appreciative audience

L-R: Cousin Terri(Philadelphia), Miffy(sister), cousin Nola(Geelong), me, cousin Maureen(Philadelphia)

R-Centre: Judy Rankin (editor/publisher) – Me and the books, Tullawalla & Perceptions

Kerri, the Cover Designer, there in spirit(Philadephia) – Maja, my guest reader

I think Frankie thought the show was all about him





Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’


AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com  




Ivor Steven (c) April 2023

Throwback Friday, A Box of Old Crayons, by Ivor Steven

A poem I originally wrote in March 2021 and was Short-listed by Postive Words Magazine in their October 2022 Competition.


A Box of Old Crayons


Sometimes I stare at an empty table

And wonder if I would ever be able

To turn the fading power back on

I was unsure about another swansong

But each time I became lost and wrong

I found another box of old crayons


And from here and there, words did flow

Nurturing my dry mirages to regrow

Replenished by the thawing mountain snow

Nature’s river rejoined my ocean’s undertow

Again, colouring in my life of highs and lows










Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’


AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com  




Ivor Steven (c) April 2023

Life’s U-turns

Hi dear readers, despite being incredibly busy cleaning house for my Philadelphia cousins and also trying to format my agenda for my book launch on Sunday! … today’s poem was drafted at the ‘Box Office Cafe’ yesterday afternoon and I’ll be reciting it at “Lowercase Poetry’s” open Mic’ event tomorrow evening. The Theme/Prompt for the Poetry Night is “Slow Burn”


Life’s U-turns



The old body is almost awake

Sleep lingers in my eyes

My aching back needs exercise

And creaks like a rusty gate


My doggie looks at me quizzically

He is full of pizzazz and glee

“It’s breakfast time

Forget your memories and rhymes”


I cannot row the boat anymore

These chalky bones are too sore

From the crashes in life’s u-turns

Now, dry wicks for my candle’s slow burn


Don’t worry, today, is not my turn

To join her in the mantle-piece urn






Tullawalla is Available From

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’


AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:

Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com  




Ivor Steven (c) April 2023