Tag: Weekly Prompts

Standing Upright (a repost from August 2020)

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Wednesday Challenge is: Resilience
To visit their fabulous site click on >> Here


Below is, the original introduction from my post in August 2020.
“Hello dear readers, I’ve been writing this poem over the last three days, and I was struggling to obtain any rhythm between thoughts and words, then I saw a wondrous photo on Derrick Knight’s blog/website this morning, (which is my ‘Featured Image’ above), and his picture of the glorious old oak tree, immediately channeled my thoughts, into that of strength and “resilience“, and from there, my Title was formed, and my words started to become a more cohesive piece of poetry…. Thank you, Derrick, for allowing me to use this beautiful and impressive photo, with my humble little poem.” >> https://derrickjknight.com/

Please Note; “Standing Upright” appears in our book “Perceptions”, a Collaboration of Poems and Photographs from Ivor Steven and Derrick Knight (Nov 2022)


Standing Upright

My heart’s bruised from bygone blood-stones
Threaded together by the spirits of old bones
And there resting within my aging body’s sway
I am shedding soulful droplets on sunny days

The world’s foul winds had blown me off my feet
After wobbling down cold and dusty streets
Then a modern medicine man came with his young tribe
Re-tuning my broken pieces with rhythmical vibes
And they declared my heartstrings to be plucky enough
To handle tomorrow’s mystery masks and travelers’ handcuffs









All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm


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 (c) July 2024

The Bedroom Chair

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Wednesday challenge is Garden. To visit their fabulous site please click on >> Here … but my garden is icy cold on these mid-winter days …

And, over at Moonwashed Musings, the Weekly Prompt is – Sultry Dreams … To visit Eugi’s fabulous site please click on >> HERE … my dreams are not “Sultry”, but “Wintry” …


The Bedroom Chair 

 
 
It’s zero degrees outside 
and I’m warm and cozy  
lying here in bed 
However, there is a pile 
of my winter clothes  
on the bedroom chair 
waiting for me to wear 
Frankie gives me his  
get up now stare!  
wanting his morning fair  
“Yes Frankie, it’s time  
for me to embrace  
the chilly morning air 
and plunge myself 
into the filtered sun’s 
brittle wintry lair” 









All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm


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 (c) June 2024

Together in the Box Office Cafe 

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is: Sleep … please visit their fabulous website by clicking on >> Here.
I’ve been busy the last several days, an open mic’ night, a big fun afternoon at the Box Office Cafe (Poem below), Creative Geelong Market Day, and tomorrow morning it’s my Dome Poetry Group’s monthly meeting … And tonight, I am very “Sleepy”



Together in the Box Office Cafe 

 
 
As is Frankie’s way 
In his cute and friendly manner  
He invited three young ladies  
To join us at our table 
And as in Tullawalla’s, ‘a meeting place’  
We quickly became cheekily friendly and chatty 
They were inquisitive about what I was writing, 
and my books, ‘Perceptions’ and ‘Until Eyes Hear Sound’ 
 
The three “train-driver” ladies jokingly agreed 
“Youth is wasted on the young” 
Then, Ivor, Frankie, Carla, Mandy, and Emily 
Shared pup-cups, cappuccino, and latte 
Along with some neuro-cool glasses  
Of vodka, prosecco, and martini 
 
Thanks to the ladies, we had a fun afternoon 
Frankie lapped up all their extra cuddles  
And Carla kindly purchased 
Signed copies of, ‘Tullawalla’ and ‘Perceptions’ 








All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm


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 direct for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) June 2024

Destination


My poem ‘Destination’ is a “Writing between the lines” exercise for the May gathering of our Dome Poets group here in Geelong. I chose Leonard Cohen’s poem, ‘The Goal’ (attached below my poem), for my attempt to write a poem between each of his lines!

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is: Departure. Please visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here.
Between here and there, “Destination” is a part of Departure



Destination, by Ivor Steven

The curtains are open
The front door is ajar
So, I can hear her sing
From her distant star

I do not own much
My soul is a gold mine
I haven’t lost my touch
My heart is kind

I share what I have
I have hope and love
Couldn’t stop the flood
Couldn’t hold her glove

I walk alone
I look content
Regrets are few
Despair ferments

I push on and on
I do not complain
I’m still alive
I’m numb to the pain

No one asks
No one knows
About finality
Under the snow


===========================

“The Goal”, by Leonard Cohen


I can’t leave my house
Or answer the phone
I’m going down again
But I’m not alone

Settling at last
Accounts of the soul
This for the trash
That paid in full

As for the fall, it
Began long ago
Can’t stop the rain
Can’t stop the snow

I sit in my chair
I look at the street
The neighbor returns
My smile of defeat

I move with the leaves
I shine with the chrome
I’m almost alive
I’m almost at home

No one to follow
And nothing to teach
Except that the goal
Falls short of the reach







Until Eyes Hear Sound: is NOW Available From,


Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven/until-eyes-hear-sound/paperback/product-jeev886.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/product-page/until-eyes-hear-sound


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 2024

Do Shadows Fly? (a Tanka)

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Wednesday Challenge is the word: Intuition. You can visit the fabulous site by clicking on >> Here.
In my abstract Tanka today, I used the word ‘Intuitively’





Do Shadows Fly? (a Tanka)


In the clouds, they fly

And their shadows ink the ground 

Then, intuitively

I ask, “Why do my writings

fail to go beyond the sky”







Until Eyes Hear Sound: is NOW Available From,



Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven/until-eyes-hear-sound/paperback/product-jeev886.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/product-page/until-eyes-hear-sound

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 2024

One Go!

Over at Weekly Prompts the Wednesday Challenge is the word: Weather . You may visit their wonderful site by clicking on >> Here

My poem, although not about the ‘weather’, the ‘Sun and snow’ do get a mentioned …




One Go!


All easier said than done

That is what I said to mum

But now I know

Between our days

Under the sun

And that final day

Buried in snow

We only get one go









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) January 2024

His Musical Finale

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word; Finale You may visit their wonderful site by clicking on >> Here.





His Musical Finale 


 
 
Richard the intrepid snail  

Went searching for the Holy Grail  

He was told by the garden toad  

His goal was on a long frosty road  

Winding down toward the South Pole  

Coolly, the snail began his arctic stroll  

Determined to find the sacred anomaly  

Before the music played at his grand finale 








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) November 2023

Silver Boots and Black Ties

Featured Image: Wikimedia File:Blow-flies.jpg

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge word is: Traveller … please visit their wonderful site by clicking on >> Here
Today my poem is about those annoying companion travellers.

Silver Boots and Black Ties 


 
 
I am being followed 

Ever since I left the front door 

I can see them 

From the corner of my eye  

I am hearing them  

Teasingly buzzing nearby  

I feel their presence 

Like a neighbourhood rabbi 

Steely spies from Shanghai  

Clustering behind my back 

Like tough guys from Versailles  

Wearing silver boots and black ties 


Annoyed and frustrated  

I suddenly swung around 

Randomly flailing my arms

And yelling with angry abandon  

“Buzz off” I let fly  

To those pesky blowflies 






Ivor Steven (c) November 2023

Help or Hindrance

“As a poet, sometimes we confuse ourselves, Trying to create ashes, instead of fire ” – Leonard Cohen

Over at Weekly Prompts the November Colour Challenge is: Flame … Please click on >> Here to visit their fabulous site.
My poem below, is about whether or not anyone reads or takes any notice of the “flame” within a poet’s words.

“I set out one night
When the tide was low
There were signs in the sky
But I did not know
I’d be caught in the grip
Of the undertow” – Leonard Cohen, from his poem ‘Undertow’, taken out his book “The Flame”



Help or Hindrance


There the penguin squats

So slick and smug

Point blank

He questions me

“What are you doing?

Where are you going?

What are you trying to achieve?”

Why are you crying?


“I’m timeworn and unsure”

I blandly reply to Freddie

The fidgety fairy penguin

And despairingly, I gaze

Back at Freddie

Through my teary eyes


As I continue to wonder

Are my imaginary words

A help or hindrance








“Until Eyes Hear Sound” will be available in December

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) November 2023

I Am Tree

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word: Why. You may visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here
Featured Image Above: A photo taken by Derrick Knight, >> https://derrickjknight.com/2023/10/27/autumn-has-arrived/ and again he has kindly given me permission to reproduce his intriguing photo, here on my poetry site … and I am always asking myself, Why?


I Am Tree 

 
 
I am the one 

Leaning against the sands of time  

I am the one 

Binding the earth together  

I am the one 

Delivering clean air to all  


I am the only one! 


Do not slaughter me 

Like another one of 

Mankind’s maniacal genocides  


Please regenerate me  

Before all of my ashes 

Are swept out to sea 







Ivor Steven (c) October 2023