G'day, and welcome to my blog site. My name is Ivor Steven, I live in Geelong, Australia. I'm an ex-industrial chemist, and a retired plumber, and a former Carer of my wife(Carole), for 30 years, who suffered from severe MS. I Write poetry about those personal thoughts, throughout and beyond my life as a Carer.
I've been blogging for over 2 years, and writing poems for 19 years. Of course a lot of my poems are about my favourite subject Carole, but since I've been blogging my writings have become quite varied, humourous, mystical, observational, and even a few monster/horror poems.
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67 thoughts on “We Are Torn”
Very well evoked poem for our times. Beautiful picture too.
I hear your pain and yes it is so difficult. Yet, with conflict there is an opportunity to grow as long as we don’t get violent.
What is bottle of Dettol? I have not heard of it before.
Were, struggling, trying, to reach, that delicate balance, between life, death, and, to, find that, state of, equilibrium, we need, to, achieve, the balance we are, in need, of.
Yes Carolyn, I’ve been feeling disturbed at the divisions developing in society, and it saddens me greatly…. the selfish and greedy can’t stop being disruptive influences… with no good intentions for the community, except look after themselves.. I suppose they’re the same ones that bought out the shelves of the supermarkets 🤔😟😳
Thank you Punam, Leonard Cohen’s song is a powerful piece, which I’m mainly aiming at that divisive groups, wanting to get back to normal life, before the appropriate time… selfishness, greed, etc.. 🤔😳😟
Yes Gina, I’m feeling very disturbed, about the divisions developing in societies…. and being very selfish and impatient…. obviously they don’t work on the front line anywhere !! 🤔😳😟
selfish is an accurate description and also ignorant, irrational and well in some cases stubborn. But selfishness is the root of it all. It saddens me because their selfish actions are burdening the health care system and well economies aren’t going to prosper if that happens. More people will get sick and we will lose many more from rampant contact infections. your poem was to the point and I salute your bravery speaking up.
Yes,.. we are sadly agreeing, and trying hard to let it all upset… patience would be great help,… but I’m not feeling that happening… I’m sad and confused.. 😕🙁🌏
your huge capacity for empathy is so admirable Ivor. I saw your messages on Emily D, sorry I am late getting to them. I ran a workshop last night and it went way past its allocated time.
I feel your pain and agree with your views expressed here … I have a poem scheduled that addresses this in a very different way … take care and stop listening to that bad news! xx
Yes… It disturbed me greatly, to see those TV pic’s, of those gun toting and ranting activists in America “demanding” their right to get back to work…. Obviously none of them work on the front line where people are sick and dying… how can they be so selfish…. 😳😩🤔
Yes it is very unfortunate especially since there are so many good people working hard to try and help people. I wish these people didn’t get the spotlight.
Here in the states most seem to be wanting some sense, striking a balance between being safe and knowing people need to work to support their family or to keep their small businesses from having to close forever. However, the ranting activists who are toting guns and demanding their rights are spurred on by Trump, the Giant Yam, who wants our people to be divided because it serves his purposes. If we are divided, we spend time arguing and not looking at how badly he mishandled this crisis. He is looking to keep Americans divided to increase his chance of being re-elected. It is disturbing that these “activists” were not arrested after showing up inside a state building armed and dressed for a military style attack. They are indeed–fools. Ivor, it’s a wonderful poem. Sorry for the rant. This situation in the states with the Giant Yam just gets me fired up.
I can understand you getting fired up Annette…. I’m way over here in Australia, and find Trump’s handling of the situation deplorable…. and to use horrific situation, for his own political gain, is inhumane…. and very much the sort of thing ‘Hitler” did… manipulating peoples fears…….!!. That why I used Cohen’s song “Puppets”
Torn we really are not knowing truth nor lie. Living in fear and dread. The people are like muppets bouncing across the stage singing their songs. Fear of life and fear of death, so many people have died over the centuries due to destruction they cannot rise above this paranoia. So conditioned to do as they are told and not as what God or Divine is saying they have brought this upon themselves. They fear death and dying. Many have gone before without a thought and many more will go also without a thought. Food for the puppet devouring team. I love your choice of song – Cohen hits the point everytime.
Actually they are the same sort of fear manipulation tactics that Hilter used against minority groups, and then used those people as scapegoats, for his own political gains…….
Your poem Ivor holds an abundance of truth.
This health crisis has brought out the best in nice people and the worst in evil ones.
There are many unanswered questions and to date we still are fed lies and incorrect information.
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 
Very well evoked poem for our times. Beautiful picture too.
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Thank you… some people have low tolerance levels….
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You are most welcome. Sadly that will forever remain the case. Hence much of our difficulty.
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Lovely lines.
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Thank you Sadje.
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Of course 👍
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yes, that last line is so correct
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Some of we are getting over here is quite disturbing 🤔
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Here too
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Odd times – I hope not too many are torn and will remain conscientious.
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It seems to be a problem at the moment….
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All we can do is live the lives we are given. To be cautious, loving, and truthful. The rest we have no control over.
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This is so true at this very moment Ivor..everyone’s torn i believe…
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Thank you Mich… . It’s a feeling I’ve had for a few days, and sorrowfully enhanced by the awful upheaval in America, which I don’t comprehend….
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Its the same here in Asia Ivor😊
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Yes… instead of bonding together, the selfish people are still being divisive…..
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I feel that way too. I am embarrassed by some of my countrymen but believe me… we are all not that way…
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Thank you for your comments Claudia 🌏
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I hear your pain and yes it is so difficult. Yet, with conflict there is an opportunity to grow as long as we don’t get violent.
What is bottle of Dettol? I have not heard of it before.
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Oh wow…. Trump proposed in one his crazy statements, that we could inject dettol and spray it everywhere to combat the virus !!
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I remember now. I guess I was so horrified that I blocked it out of my mind. What an insane idea.
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Oh… it hit the news over here in Australia big time……
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Will we ever realise, I don’t know. I keep thinking will the new normal fill us with some sense
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To comprehend the scale of the situation seems to be lost on those with selfish attitudes…..
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I completely agree. I wonder what awaits.
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I’m trying to stay in the moment….. what lays ahead is out of minds grasp…🙄
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Excellent, Ivor.
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Thank you Rhen….
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Most welcome.
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Were, struggling, trying, to reach, that delicate balance, between life, death, and, to, find that, state of, equilibrium, we need, to, achieve, the balance we are, in need, of.
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Awesome lines. 👍
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Thank you for your kind words
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Torn is a perfect descriptive word…and this is a powerful, poignant poem, Ivor.
And all of those things you named are so disturbing. 😦
(((HUGS))) ❤
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Yes Carolyn, I’ve been feeling disturbed at the divisions developing in society, and it saddens me greatly…. the selfish and greedy can’t stop being disruptive influences… with no good intentions for the community, except look after themselves.. I suppose they’re the same ones that bought out the shelves of the supermarkets 🤔😟😳
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These are strange times, Ivor.
I love the song.
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Thank you Punam, Leonard Cohen’s song is a powerful piece, which I’m mainly aiming at that divisive groups, wanting to get back to normal life, before the appropriate time… selfishness, greed, etc.. 🤔😳😟
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powerful poem yet again Ivor – brilliant words – Rants and guns are the tools of fools –
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Yes Gina, I’m feeling very disturbed, about the divisions developing in societies…. and being very selfish and impatient…. obviously they don’t work on the front line anywhere !! 🤔😳😟
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selfish is an accurate description and also ignorant, irrational and well in some cases stubborn. But selfishness is the root of it all. It saddens me because their selfish actions are burdening the health care system and well economies aren’t going to prosper if that happens. More people will get sick and we will lose many more from rampant contact infections. your poem was to the point and I salute your bravery speaking up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes,.. we are sadly agreeing, and trying hard to let it all upset… patience would be great help,… but I’m not feeling that happening… I’m sad and confused.. 😕🙁🌏
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yes these things baffle me too, it’s for everyone’s good but they can’t see that, don;t be too down Ivor, we can only change ourselves, and speak up.
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I know Gina, but I have this inbuilt care factor, that is a major part of my psyche….. I’ll try and be more circumspect… 💙🌏🤔
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your huge capacity for empathy is so admirable Ivor. I saw your messages on Emily D, sorry I am late getting to them. I ran a workshop last night and it went way past its allocated time.
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Oh… you must be tired today…. take care…
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I feel your pain and agree with your views expressed here … I have a poem scheduled that addresses this in a very different way … take care and stop listening to that bad news! xx
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I’ve just turned the TV off…. 😊📺😊💙🌏
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smart move, it will only stress you out!
Listen to music, write, do anything but news … ❤
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Back to listening to the Kinks 🎶🎶😊😉
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good man!
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That last line! Rants and guns are the tools of fools. What a true statement.
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Yes… It disturbed me greatly, to see those TV pic’s, of those gun toting and ranting activists in America “demanding” their right to get back to work…. Obviously none of them work on the front line where people are sick and dying… how can they be so selfish…. 😳😩🤔
LikeLike
Yes it is very unfortunate especially since there are so many good people working hard to try and help people. I wish these people didn’t get the spotlight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here in the states most seem to be wanting some sense, striking a balance between being safe and knowing people need to work to support their family or to keep their small businesses from having to close forever. However, the ranting activists who are toting guns and demanding their rights are spurred on by Trump, the Giant Yam, who wants our people to be divided because it serves his purposes. If we are divided, we spend time arguing and not looking at how badly he mishandled this crisis. He is looking to keep Americans divided to increase his chance of being re-elected. It is disturbing that these “activists” were not arrested after showing up inside a state building armed and dressed for a military style attack. They are indeed–fools. Ivor, it’s a wonderful poem. Sorry for the rant. This situation in the states with the Giant Yam just gets me fired up.
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I can understand you getting fired up Annette…. I’m way over here in Australia, and find Trump’s handling of the situation deplorable…. and to use horrific situation, for his own political gain, is inhumane…. and very much the sort of thing ‘Hitler” did… manipulating peoples fears…….!!. That why I used Cohen’s song “Puppets”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Torn we really are not knowing truth nor lie. Living in fear and dread. The people are like muppets bouncing across the stage singing their songs. Fear of life and fear of death, so many people have died over the centuries due to destruction they cannot rise above this paranoia. So conditioned to do as they are told and not as what God or Divine is saying they have brought this upon themselves. They fear death and dying. Many have gone before without a thought and many more will go also without a thought. Food for the puppet devouring team. I love your choice of song – Cohen hits the point everytime.
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Thank you Nanette for your comprehensive comments… Yes it’s fear that the leading politicians use to manipulate the people into what want.. 😕😒
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Very sad way to work.
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Actually they are the same sort of fear manipulation tactics that Hilter used against minority groups, and then used those people as scapegoats, for his own political gains…….
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I believe so, he created a living hell on Earth so many were murdered.
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Torn between lies and truth is very apt 🙂
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Thank you Sue,”may the force be with you “
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I think most people I know are torn right now.
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Far too many neither realise nor understand it seems.
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Your poem Ivor holds an abundance of truth.
This health crisis has brought out the best in nice people and the worst in evil ones.
There are many unanswered questions and to date we still are fed lies and incorrect information.
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Thank you Jaquin, yes we definitely torn puppets, being fed lies for stuffing
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Your poem rings true, Ivor. Seems this mess brings out the best and the worse in people.
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Yes, I’m afraid so, 😊😨💙🌏
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