Oh, No! … Here in Australia, yesterday’s referendum, to give our First Nation’s people a ‘Voice’ in parliament was rejected … I think it’s a sad outcome for Australia, and I am feeling the hurt that my Aboriginal friends are experiencing today.
Oh, No!
Why cannot I be right?
Why is my right so wrong?
Why are the wrongs so strong?
How has racism become right?
Why does our blight?
Remain deaf dumb and blind!
Without any foresight!
Ivor Steven (c) October 2023
Over at Weekly Prompts, the Wednesday Challenge is the word: Identity … To visit their fabulous site, please click on >> Here … My poem below is an appropriate and poignant response to the Prompt
A Wounded Identity Badge
I am lying here on brown dirt
My human blood is trickling
From a new open-cut wound
Into this ancient and sacred ground
I have been shot!
Straight through my “Yes” vote badge
By a white man’s racist outburst
His rant was full of arrogance and hatred
My badge is damaged but not destroyed
My heart is bruised but not broken
I will steadfastly, forever vote “Yes”
Until eyes hear the sound of human decency
Ivor Steven (c) October 2023
Today I attended the monthly meeting of Geelong’s, Dome Poetry Group, our assignment was to present a ‘Monologue’ and I duly recited my poem “The Voice”. After taking note of the constructive discussion and a few helpful hints, this afternoon I have written a “Revised Version” of the poem. Special thanks to Guenter (Geelong Writers Pres) and my fellow “Dome Poets”.
Please note, the original version is attached below
The Voice (a Monologue), Revised
Do not yet shut the doors
But give me leave to speak with you and yours
Do not yet turn away
The time I ask of you is brief for what I have to say
Join me in the shade of this country’s trees
My ancient words are free
But why listen to a language you cannot see
In the past, you have not heard my pleas
And forever! I have been treated harshly
I am a dream-time spirit bird
Flying within your boundaries seems absurd
You! Have clipped my wings
And unashamedly ripped apart my kin
You! Desecrated my sacred ground
For the price of two axes and a Pound
Yes! It’s time to sit without descent
On the sand inside your tribal tent
Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2023
Today I attended the monthly meeting of Geelong’s, Dome Poetry Group, our assignment was to present a ‘Monologue’ and I duly recited my poem “The Voice”. After some constructive discussion and a few helpful hints, this afternoon I have written a “Revised Version” of the poem. Special thanks to Guenter (Geelong Writers Pres) and my fellow “Dome Poets”. Please note, the original version is attached below
On Saturday, 14 October 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. I’ll be voting “Yes”
The Voice (a Monologue), Revised
Do not yet shut the doors
But give me leave to speak with you and yours
Do not yet turn away
The time I ask of you is brief for what I have to say
Join me in the shade of this country’s trees
My ancient words are free
But why listen to a language you cannot see
In the past, you have not heard my pleas
And forever! I have been treated harshly
I am a dream-time spirit bird
Flying within your boundaries seems absurd
You! Have clipped my wings
And unashamedly ripped apart my kin
You! Desecrated my sacred ground
For the price of two axes and a Pound
Yes! It’s time sit without descent
On the sand inside your tribal tent
The Voice (a Monologue), Original
Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2023
I am ecstatic that my poem “Schoolyards and Lizards”, has been accepted and published in Spillwords Magazine today, and I am very grateful to the editor Dagmara for selecting my piece … Please go over and visit my poem at Spillwords and if you wish, leave a 💓 for my article, by clicking on this link >> https://spillwords.com/schoolyards-and-lizards/
Featured Image Above: Spillwords Magazine – 1536×813
My photo of, “Richard the Lizard, a wise and withered Wizard”
Schoolyards and Lizards
Enter Richard the lizard
A wise and withered wizard
Who stealthily slithered and delivered
His magic beyond pandemics and blizzards
Recreating a safe haven
An unsmeared and inured schoolyard
To be shared by the children
Without the National Guard
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:
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c) February 2023
Here is a poem I wrote 2 years ago after Trumps devisive and undemoncratic tactics during his USA election campaign … but “today” for a different invasion of “injustice” my poem seems to be appropriate again ….
“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.”
Nelson Mandela
“If you want to improve your quality of life and the quality of life for all women, never stop questioning society or calling for change.”
Justina De Pierris
Lost, Without a Compass
Ivor Steven (c) June 2022
I feel honoured to have three pieces published in Lisa Tomey’s new Anthology, Social Justice Links. And congratulations to Lisa Tomey for this project. This is a raw and honest poetic view to the many aspects of social injustice in our world.
It takes courage to publish a book like this and I applaud Lisa Tomey for doing so! Congratulations Lisa and to all the writers/contributors!
My three poems in the Anthology are;
– A Hard Rain A’Gonna Fall on Polar Bears
– Burnt at the Cross
– That Nightly Sound
And the book is available for purchase via these Links
>> Lulu Link
>> Amazon Link
Social Justice Inks is about expression of social justice concerns and about working through these concerns, seeking answers is an ongoing process. We asked poets to offer their creative expressions about Social Justice and what they think about how to solve social problems in the world.
This collection is from poets around the world, offering their points of view about Social Justice. It has brought chill bumps to rise, blood to boil, hearts to beat, and hope to ring true.
It has often been said that awareness is the key from apathy to action. The writers offer such a strong awareness from so many perspectives. What will be interesting to hear is how the reader is affected and if the words stimulate change.
Last, we cannot express deeply enough the appreciation for all these talented individuals who have come together to establish a community for social awareness.
About the Artist & Cover Art
It has been a delight to work with Kay Payne as we developed a concept for the cover art. What I was looking for is something to show the positive spirit and power of nature. This evolved to the wreath of unity decorated with the spirit animals which came to mind. It is by no means exhaustive but was designed to show the power of the spirit. This comes from my personal belief that with unity we have strength and with strength and spirit we have power. May we always use that power to make positive changes in this world.
Kay Payne resides in Alabama with a paintbrush in one hand and a hammer in the other. She helps her beloved with his handyman work, while raising their blended family, full of love and sweet tea.
A Hard Rain A’Gonna Fall on Polar Bears
The foreigners have quietly landed
Wood from our trees has all been sanded
We’re a country without doors
Surrounded by golden shores
The openings are vast
The alien’s time is here at last
I cannot stop them, nor can you
If it be their will
Then, let it be
Join them, do not flee
We’ll all be hand in hand
To become the promised land
So let us be great again
Do not worry about the hard rain
Do not consider the faded sunlight
Forget about the rainstorm tonight
Who cares about Polar Bear’s with no ice?
World leaders say “Enjoy now, no matter the price”
Ivor Steven (c) May 2022
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 