I’m very pleased to share that Literary Revelations Press has accepted five of my haiku for publication in their new anthology, Haiku for Soulmates, edited by Gabriela Marie Milton. A lovely surprise, and a moment worth celebrating.
On Wednesday evening, I attended the launch of ‘Anomaly Street’, the 2025 Geelong Writers Anthology/Chapbook. Two of my poems appear in the collection, and I was honoured to recite A Malay Kris and A Cracked Brick Wall. The gathering was warm and welcoming, each reading revealing the diversity of voices within Geelong Writers. For me, the highlight was hearing my words resonate aloud among so many fine works. Holding my copy of Anomaly Street, I felt part of a living street of voices, distinct yet harmonising in community.
The poem is composed of comments/anecdotes I posted on some of my fellow WordPress writers’ articles from that time. In stanza order, they are.
I am delighted to have 5 of my poems in this anthology! Superbly compiled by the editors, Kaye Lynne Booth and Robbie Cheadle … And I join these fabulous poets, DL Mullan, Barbara Harris Leonhard, Jude Itakali, Robbie Cheadle, Michelle Ayon Navajas, Gwen M. Plano, Elizabeth Gauffreau, David Bogomolny, Dawn Pasturino, Maggie Watson, and Colleen Chesebro, who share their own small pleasures in poetic verse.
I am extremely proud and humbled by the acceptance of five of my poems by the amazing Susi Bocks, Editor-in-Chief at The Short of It!“Hot off the Press” and released for publication today!
Cascading sunshine Falls into my cloudy eyes Cold ponds feel new light
Further Down
From the Pandemic’s Depressing downs Into my Covid Dressing gown
Finality
after we have consumed the leftover wine and desecrated the sundial’s shadow the dark side of the moon will finally recede from view
Co-existence
Beneath the trees and bushes Lives an underground network Prospering on giving and receiving
Our Time
Time waits for no one Everyone passes in time Time hears no commands
~~~
Ivor Steven, formerly an Industrial Chemist and then a Plumber, is now retired; he has been published in numerous anthologies and online magazines. He has two self-published books, Tullawalla and Perceptions. Ivor is an active member of the Geelong WritersInc.(Australia) and an appointed writer for Coffee House Writers magazine (USA). He was first featured in 2022 and was nominated for the 2022 Pushcart Prize for his piece – The Sum is One. You can read his features and reblog by clicking HERE.
If you’d like to be featured on The Short of It in the future, click here for the submission guidelines.
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
I am thrilled to announce that three of my poems were selected for publication in the prestigious Geelong Writers Inc. Annual Anthology, 2022, and I am honoured to have my words published in a journal along side a group of talented writers that I admire and who have mentored me for many years.
I have two poems, “Fragments Float, Tears Splash” and “The Disappearance Of Decency”, in the Poetry Chapter, and the other poem, “Love Is Not Declined”, is in the Romance Chapter
I am ecstatic to announce that the self-published version of my Book “Tullawalla” will be available on September 10th … thank you to my editor/publisher, Judy of Jaymah Press (a local establishment) for accepting to take on my project. >> https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
I am pleased and proud to announce that 2 of my poems, “Dreaming in a Dream (a Tanka)” & “Rumblings (a Senryu)” are published in the June Issue, Positive Words Magazine, and thank you to the Editor, Sandra, for selecting my poems… For further information about this fabulous Australian magazine, visit their site via this link > https://positivewordsmagazine.wordpress.com/ Attached below, I have scanned the poems directly from my copy of the Magazine.
I am pleased and proud to announce that my poem, “Vultures Tell No Lies” is published in the Positive Words Magazine, March Issue, and thank you to the Editor, Sandra, for selecting my poem… For further information about this fabulous Australian magazine, visit their site via this link > https://positivewordsmagazine.wordpress.com/ Attached below, I have scanned the poems directly from my copy of the Magazine
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 