Dear readers, some of you might know that I’ve been busy lately, submitting my poems for various publications. Today I received great news from the Geelong Writers Anthology publication for 2018.
Anthology Submissions
Hi Ivor!
Dear readers, some of you might know that I’ve been busy lately, submitting my poems for various publications. Today I received great news from the Geelong Writers Anthology publication for 2018.
Hi Ivor!
G’day dear friends and readers, I’m still bristling and bubbling from Xavier Rudd’s concert last Saturday night, and on this Thursday, another day of Ivor being an old plumber at work, the attached song seems both inspiring and appropriate for me this week. Please enjoy his music and lyrics.
“Growth Lines”
And I believe we are done
And I agree we had fun
We can hold our heads high
‘Cause we could only try
Yeah, we came so far
And we gave it our all
We can walk with pride
Tonight
Floating in the ocean
Heart beating like a drum
I’m singing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
And I’m floating in the ocean
Heart beating like a drum
Singing Hallelujah into the setting sun
Featured Image: via spotlightreport.net, google images.
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
“Weekly Prompt” . The word prompt for this week: Serendipity
I’m a poet of little renown
Writing continuously for eighteen years
Scribbling word after word
Penning thousands upon thousands of lines
Forming hundreds and hundreds of poems
My stories of memories and rhymes
Soulful words of mine
By perchance
I’m reviewing my poems today
Reading every poem, every word
Auspiciously
Discovering there’s a word
A word I’ve never used
I’m mystified and perplexed
I’ve never been charmed
With the gift of the written word
Fortuity has rolled on by me
I’m wondering why
Why I’ve never used the word
Serendipity
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
I’ve been good friends with Colleen of, Click >> ChatterMaster, since the first week I started blogging 14 months ago. I love her glorious attitude for life and people. I diligently read all of her posts (nearly) and I often write comments to her in the form of little poems, and many of them have been featured here in my “Tit Bits” series of poems. However today I’m presenting little/micro poems I’ve posted on Colleen’s site, during the past few weeks.
Fall
After a bad fall
We need good strength
To fully recover
I Believe
I believe in helping
I believe it’s our call
I believe no matter how small
I believe in standing tall
Where To
I’m good at reading maps
Not a good driver
I’m good a finding the dots
Not good at erasing the crosses
I’m good at figuring things out
If you’re struggling about
I’ll help you out
Extra Time
If we had an extra hour in our day
It still wouldn’t be enough time
To fit all the good times in
We just have to enjoy our good times
While we still have time
Holding Today
I like holding today
She’s bubbly and full of life
I look forward to meeting tomorrow
She’s a lustrous light
I loved yesterday
Like there was no tomorrow
I dream of the next kiss
Holding onto today is bliss
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Weekly Prompts : Photo Challenge, Animals In Nature
This weeks Photo Challenge is about animals in nature, and I’m always fascinated by the mystical world of dragons, and that’s “My Dragon” in the featured image above, and also in the picture below, where I’m giving my friendly dragon a pat. You can read all about my dragon by clicking on this link >> https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2017/09/23/my-dragon-the-trilogy-2/ I know my dragon is very fond of the local swans residing nearby on Corio Bay.
There are readers of mine who would remember my Lizard Of Wizardry, Lizzy, who(it has been suggested) was the reincarnation of my little furry friend, Lily, and if you’d like to read about Lizzy the lizard, click on this link >>https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2017/11/07/lily-and-a-lizard-of-wizardry-2/
I do miss my little dog Lily, and we both enjoyed our walks to the lovely bush setting of the Moorabool Valley Chocolate Cafe. Every now and then we would encounter a cheeky magpie on the Cafe’s outside patio area, and below, photos of the magpie and, lily proudly sitting in her wild natural habitat. I also wrote a poem about that cheeky magpie, click here on this link >>https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2017/10/15/cheeky-magpie/
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
I was fortunate enough to go see Xavier Rudd, live in concert last night, as part of his Storm Boy Tour of Australia, and he was here in Geelong, and what an incredible show he put on, in front of a pack house in his hometown. He’s a rare talent, playing multiple instruments, including the Aboriginal Didgeridoo and “Lioness Eye” is a good example of him playing the didgeridoo. Click this link >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZk-EhCevm0 Attached below is a few of his songs that he performed last night. I did try taking some video clips, but they were very poor attempts I’m afraid, Yes, Ivor should stick to trying to write poetry.
And of course there’s no Xavier Rudd show/concert, without listening to his classic song, “Spirit Bird”, I’ll post this version so you’re able to follow his lyrics, a heartfelt message of important significance for all walks life of our world.
“Spirit Bird she creaks and groans
She knows she has
Seen this all before she has
Seen this all before she has”
I hope you enjoy his music as much as I do.
Featured Image: From Aesthetic Magazine, July 17th 2017.
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Today’s dawn is crisp and foggy
A gentle chilly breeze tingles my skin’s awakening
The cold air’s magically refreshing
As I sit here under my verandah
Protected from the cool settling dew droplets
Wetting every piece of exposed ground
Moisturising my garden’s fernery
Greenery leaves glossy and glowing
I sense my cheeks are warmly blushing
Feeling filtered rays of morning sunshine
Welcoming me to another enriching new-day
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Hello dear Readers, I’m presenting this important poem written by, Sarah, of Fresh Hell Poetry, for you all to read. An absolutely outstanding piece of poetry, definitely one of the best anti-war poems I’ve ever read.
In response to CafePhilos’s call to make peace viral. A noble effort, and worth a try. Please give his post a read.
“Trying to do a slam-style poem. I really hope the audio turned out OK on this. Apologies if it’s too quiet, I’m still figuring out how to make videos.” – Fresh Hell
If I imagine them
Taking my brother away to war
I shatter.
I don’t want to lose anyone.
Especially not to something as stupid
As war.
Maybe you like the idea of war
Because you’ve confused real life with action movies.
Maybe you hate another group of people for what they have done.
I can’t convince you to forgive another’s atrocities
That is something you must grow into on your own.
But I can beg you this:
When dogs of war bark
Don’t feed them.
You will be told it is the honorable thing
To die for your country.
You will be told you have enemies abroad
Monsters in human flesh.
But the monsters are in your back yard
Baying for blood.
Don’t
feed
them.
You will be told
That if you love your family
You will abandon it
And submit yourself to the state.
Give up your mind, body, and soul
To be consumed.
Don’t feed them.
You will be called weak
You will be called subversive
You will be stamped
Kicked
Drowned
Thrown into jail
Dumped in the gutter.
Still,
don’t feed them.
They will scream about the chaos
Unleashed in the world
They will plead for your aid
They will put weeping women before you
They will show you the bodies of children
They will appeal to your humanity.
But if you join them
You become the monster.
You will rape the women
You will bomb the children
You will force them all into the machines.
Don’t feed them.
They offer you money
Insurance for your families
Early retirement.
Ask your wife how she feels
When you go abroad.
She may smile then, proud and supportive,
But when she gets the letter,
Insurance will be a cold comfort
A reminder
That her loved one was eaten alive.
Don’t feed them.
The politicians get fatter.
The generals get fatter.
Our fearless leaders
Have little to lose.
What is noble
About sacrificing yourself for these people?
Are they so wise, so just?
They have enough.
Don’t feed them.
“Last week in my feature at the Go Dog Go Cafe I put out a call to write a poem to introduce yourself. the idea was formed from a spoken word poetry meet I attended.
If it inspires you to write one, Pingback to here or my Come Sit With Me post and I will feature it this week at the Cafe!
No word limit but….you know what I mean!
I would really like to read who you are in your own words!
Here’s my poem, about me, Ivor.
About Me, And My Links <<< Click Here For Gina’s Post.
How to write a poem about me
The boy who lives by the sea
As a youngster, I was not a loud speaker
Just shy and quiet, a daytime dreamer
With visions of yesteryear well-preserved
Good times, on the beach and in the surf
I loved Vegemite, honey and ice-cream
And my life became just a little dream
Looking at the mirror of a calm bay
I see sun-burnt freckles and dark hair, that turned grey
Struggling, life was disappearing after my Stroke
Emotionally I was crying out, who’s left to row the boat
Needing strength, my stars echoed, “I Do Thee Shine”
Now I’m left with these words of mine
Recalling all of the days in my time
Leaving my empty hands full, of memories and rhymes
Ivor Steven (c) 2018
Hello dear readers, here’s another great chance for you to join in a Party and promote your site/or post. I’m linking my latest poem here, click >>>
https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2018/08/21/eating-chocolates-and-watching-wars-2/