Alex
My trusty guardian
Shamefully
I’ve taken him for granted
That happy old chap
Who faithfully
Protects me
A loyal family friend
He’s always been around
Like an inherited heirloom
His age remains a mystery
He’s stoic and quietly stern
And I dare not ask him
The eternal keeper
Of our ancestral tree
Holder of heavens keys
Guarding life’s comings a goings
Waiting there, under shady leaves
Forever our courtyard centurion
Ivor Steven (c) Jan 2020
The midweek Word/Photo Challenge is on the concept of HOME CRAFTS. Please go over and visit their fabulous site, “Weekly Prompts”, by clicking >> HERE
Today I have chosen my recent home hobby, of growing succulents in pots, and below is my interesting abstract poem, “What Is Your Name”…. Here-in lies my problem, I do not know any of their names… So below, I have number the plants 1. to 10. , and if there is any keen gardeners out there, that know their succulents, I would really appreciate your feedback…..starting with the plant in the featured image above….
Plant 1. Plant 2.
Plant 3. Plant 4.
Plant 5. Plant 6.
Plant 7. Plant 8.
Plant 9. Plant 10.
What Is Your Name
Oh, my darling young one
Your skin, so silky smooth
Oh, what is your name
Your pastel tones, so divine
Oh, will you stand here beside me
Your internal beauty captures my heart
Oh, my house is your home
Your eternal life, would grow and blossom
Oh, will my nurturing expose your soft soul
Your exquisite flower, a lovers reward
Ivor Steven (c) Jan 2020
My tears are only droplets
Into a sea of grief
Despite my cloudy tears
I see, there above
The night sky is clear
Despite my inner gloom
I see, there above
A bright crescent moon
Despite my blinding wonder
I see, there above
She’s cradling a shining star
Ivor Steven (c) Jan 2020
Sorrow
A young light has gone
May my tears anoint his soul
Taken far too soon
Ivor Steven (c) Jan 2020
This weekend’s Word/Photo Challenge from ‘Weekly Prompts’ is: ‘The Bridge’ …. My bridge is the picturesque Cunningham Pier, on the harbour, in Geelong. Please go and visit the ‘Weekly Prompts’ site by clicking >> HERE
At ‘The Pier Geelong’, homegrown singing sensation Taylor Henderson, headlined Sunday’s concert “GEELONG FIRES-UP”. The event’s a local collaborative initiative aiming to raise a $1 for every Geelong citizen, i.e. $260,000 in total, for the “Fire Fund Relief”, here in Australia.
Something Beautiful
On a balmy Sunday
I’m here at the function room
In the the grandiose, ‘The Pier Geelong’
Overlooking a calm Corio Bay
It’s only mid-afternoon
And already, there’s a wave of sound
Cascading upon the gathering crowd
Rhythmical music, pleasing this deck of hearts
The show rolls happily into the evening
Firing-up the charity event’s audience
Cheering, they all sing and dance
And the fund raiser’s been a burning success
Below: The afternoon view from inside ‘The Pier’s’, function room
Below Left: Taylor Henderson and his dad Cam… Right: The Piano Bar duet
Below Left: Me with Taylor after his gig ….. Right: ‘The Pier at night
And after the show, on my way to the Moorabool St Taxi rank, I happily took a couple more photos….. luckily they worked…. !!
Below Left: Cameron the Didgeredoo busker…. Right: Street art, ‘something beautiful’
Below: Here’s a music/video by Geelong singer/songwriter, Taylor Henderson.
Ivor Steven (c) Jan 2020
Dear readers and followers, here’s a great opportunity for your writings to be read by other writers, and also to find and meet other writers. You are very welcome to participate, come along and visit our writer friendly site…..
Welcome to Promote Yourself Monday. All Go Dog Go Cafe community members are invited to post one link to one specific piece of their writing (600 words or less please!) they have published on their blog, Facebook page, or Instagram feed into the comments section below.
I Handed Her My Card
I had lunch at the office
That is, the Box Office Cafe
My favourite local eatery
I enjoyed a tasty Vietnamese salad
Then I took some photos on my camera-phone
Trying to capture the venues’ rustic atmosphere
Leafy plants in pots and hanging baskets
And there’s abstract paintings on display
Along side artworks painted directly onto the walls
All enhancing the Cafe’s peaceful aura
In front of the wine collection’s shelves
There’s a large table of magazines
Where my ‘Tullawalla Booklets’ lay for patrons to read
And as is my way, I started up a conversation
And there was a young lady at the adjacent table
Her name was Katie, and coincidently
She knew about the ‘Lowercase’ poetry group
I told her when and where, they were to next meet
Then she intimated she might attend the recital night
With a friendly smile, I handed her my poetry card
PS: Surprise, surprise, here I am back a the Box Office Cafe for breakfast, on Saturday morning, of the Australia Day, long weekend. I don’t often go out for breakfast, but the weather is perfect, and I’ve earned myself a treat this week. Below a couple of pic’s of my fabulous breakfast.
Ivor Steven (c) Jan 2020
Here Comes The Rain
The dawn’s dark rain-clouds
Of hovering graceful greys
Are cascading their silver linings
And the falling rain sparkles
Lighting up the morning sky
Resonating nature’s sounds
Heaven’s musical crescendo
The sweetest of all musical notes
A drumming of heavy raindrops
Dancing on the ground
And as the awakening rains
Come tumbling down
The torrents of regenerating waters
Are now crying rivers through burning trees
Ivor Steven (c) Jan 2020
Hello readers and followers, this is poem I posted 3 weeks ago, but today I’ve revised some words and the format. I read this poem to my poetry group on Sunday, and after the usual discussion the group suggested some subtle changes, to give my piece an even more powerful punch….. and after swapping things around a little, this is my revised poem…. with sincere thanks to members of my wonderful poetry group…..below I’ve attached a photo of the original poem….
Waiting
The earth is waiting
Sick of humans stalling
And their time wasting
They know it’s time
Waiting for their promised cheers
Waiting for less destructive years
Will they give her resolutions
Of better times ahead
Will they finally read
Thor’s neon signs
Will they notice
A smoke covered sun
Will they be able to breathe the air
As a united one
The earth cannot watch
Nor wait
While humans
Fill their own greedy plates
Why are they celebrating?
Like blind fools, that are always pretending
As if nothing is going wrong
They can hear the whales crying songs
They can see the polar caps are melting
They can taste the venom of government’s lying
In the following video/song, if you could metaphorically place earth and human’s between the lyrics, you might understand why I chose this song by Damien Rice..
Ivor Steven (c) Jan 2020
Hello readers, today I’m presenting my first Haibun. The Haibun is a prosimetric literary form originating in Japan, combining prose and haiku. The range of haibun is broad and frequently includes autobiography, diary, essay, prose poem, short story and travel journal.
Yesterday I travelled by bus into the city centre, to visit the unique Analogue Academy, an art gallery, a creative arts school, including a coffee shop/bar, and a drop-off depot for photographers to have their films developed. Definitely a friendly venue for creative people to meet, and enjoy the atmosphere of the rustic and comfortable surroundings. And of course Ivor had his usual coffee, cake and a few beers. The specific purpose of my outing was to view an exhibition of paintings by local artist, Jacklyn Foster, who is a fellow member of Geelong’s ‘Lowercase Poetry Group’. I found her display, “Replying To Spam Emails” to be imaginative and colourful, and I was very satisfied with myself that I had made the effort to attend the Analogue Academy.
Gallery
Uniquely homely
Creativity set free
Here’s Tullawalla**
** Tullawalla, and an aboriginal word meaning, ‘a place to sit and meet’
Below: A fabulous painting by Jacklyn Foster
Below: Jacklyn Foster’s paintings in the display area at Analogue Academy
Below: Photos of the Cafe area
Ivor Steven (c) Jan 2020
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 