This Lost Shadow, A “10” Year Celebration

Ten years ago my poem ‘This Lost Shadow‘ was accepted and published in the Literary Anthology, “Melpomene” . The poem was the first piece of mine to appear in a Published Book, and I was exceptionally proud to have my name in the authors list, along side the famous poets, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, William Blake, and Paul Verlaine … Below, I have scanned my poem ‘This Lost Shadow’ directly from my copy of the book.

Featured Photo Above: Taken by Derrick Knight > derrickjknight – Ramblings

Melpomene

Gwendolyn Taunton (Editor)

Melpomene is a collection of poetry, prose and short fiction named after the Greek Muse of Tragedy. The central theme of the anthology is the beauty found in sorrow and the darker sides of human nature, drawing on literary traditions such as the ‘Damned Poets’, the Decadent Movement, Symbolism/Surrealism and the Fin de si cle. Melpomene is broken into four sections: Liber Veneficium (Book of Magic), Liber Maeroris (Book of Sorrow), Liber Fatum (Book of Fate), and Liber Mortuorum (Book of Death). Each section contains both new and classic literature dealing with these themes. Authors in this volume include Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, William Blake, Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, Gwendolyn Taunton, Azsacra Zarathustra, Math Jones, Bernardo Sena, J. Karl Bogartte, C. B. Liddell, James WF Roberts, Christopher Pankhurst, H. A. Cledones, Tamas Nagyatadi Horvath, L. Alexander Carle, Bill Noble, Marg Howlet, Ivor Steven and Gene Banyard. Containing works both old and new, Melpomene offers a prime selection of works on the melancholic side of existence, the transformational beauty of the esoteric, occult secrets hidden in verse, sorrow, doom and the inevitable grasp of death. Melpomene will haunt the reader with a dark and unearthly beauty that is both forbidden and forlorn…

Ivor Steven (c) July 2022

Social Justice Inks: Anthology of Poetry

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

“Eclectic Words”, Geelong Writers Anthology, 2021

The Geelong Writers annual anthology for 2021, “Eclectic Words”, was released during the week, and I am delighted to announce that 3 of my pieces were accepted by the selection panel. I must say it’s a honour and a thrill to have these articles represented in my hometown’s foremost literary anthology. Attached below, I have scanned the items directly from my copy of the Anothology

In The Poetry Section.

In The Horror Section, (I have 2 pieces)

Ivor Steven (c) April 2nd 2022

“New Mushrooms”, my 2nd Poem in the Red Wolf Journal, A Change of World Spring 2022 Edition

Featured Image Above: with the kind permission of Derrick Knight >> https://derrickjknight.com/

The ediditor of Red Wolf Journal, Irene Toh, is pleased to announce the release of the Spring 2022 Issue.

The poets with work in the A Change of World edition are:

Dmitry Blizniuk
Paul Brooke
Jeff Burt
Joe Cottonwood
CS Crowe
Mary Anna Scenga Kruch
Ron. Lavalette
Joan Mazza
Karla Linn Merrifield
Peter Mladinic
Misky
Larry Oakner
Frederick Pollack
Emalisa Rose
Timothy Resau
Rikki Santer
Emil Sinclair
Ivor Steven
Debi Swim

You may download a copy of the PDF release here.

A Change of World Spring 2022 Issue 20

____________________________________________________________________________________

You’re invited to submit to our new issue, also titled A Change of World, Fall 2022 Edition. Read our submission guidelines here. Happy writing!

Irene Toh
Editor
Spring 2022 Edition
_____________________________________________________________________________________

A sincere thank you to the editor Irene, for considering two my of poems for her superb anthology “A Change Of World”

New Mushrooms

After the storm

Old boundaries were transformed

Fences were moved and torn

Fields smelled of rotting corn

Patient vultures remained airborne

Above the drowning longhorn’s

After the storm

I rested under the peppercorn

And I saw new mushrooms rise with the dawn

Ivor Steven (c) February 2022

Perceptions

Introduction

This booklet is a collection of twenty collaborative articles. The photographs were taken by Derrick Knight, and the associated poems were written by Ivor Steven

The Photographer: Derrick Knight (New Forest, Southern England)

He is a septuagenarian who enjoys rambling physically and photographing what he sees, and rambling in his head as memories are triggered. He also rambles through a lifetime of his photographs.

The poet: Ivor Steven (Geelong, Australia)

He was formerly an Industrial Chemist, then a Plumber, now retired, and has been writing poetry for 20 years. He is on the committee of the Geelong Writers Inc.(Australia), a team member with the on-line magazine “Go Dog Go Cafe” (America), and also writer for “Coffee House Writers” magazine (America). 

As far as I can ascertain(??) from my poetry files, “The Faeries of Fry’s Lane” is the first poem I wrote in association with a Photograph/s taken by Derrick Knight from his wonderful blog/website … I have now compiled a PDF Booklet of all our twenty (I think) collaorations … If are you interested in receiving a free PDF copy of “Perceptions”, please contact me via this email >> IR.Steven@bigpond.com

The Faeries of Fry’s Lane

Walking down Fry’s Lane

Sheltering from the misty rain

I did spy among the hedgerow berries

A Frolic of mystical faeries

Like iridescent glowing canaries

A fluttering of night-time luminaries

Trying not to disturb their magical home

I quietly asked them, “Are you all alone”

The faeries laughed and danced

They replied, “Your vision is by perchance

and your dreams may turn to stone

if you wish for a golden throne”

Suddenly the glittering sands of time

Illuminating the faeries wings of rhyme

Begun jumping off the falling star

And the faeries quickly flew back to their green Avatar

Ivor Steven (c) December 2021

New Mushrooms, by Ivor Steven

I’m thrilled to announce that a second poem of mine “New Mushrooms” was also selected by the Red Wolf Journal for their up-coming 2022 Spring Edition Anthology, a sincere thank you to the editor Irene for accepting my poem.

https://youtu.be/cl4cLEToPfc

Ivor Steven (c) November 2021

Red Wolf Journal

New Mushrooms
by Ivor Steven

After the storm
Old boundaries were transformed
Fences were moved and torn
Fields smelled of rotting corn
Patient vultures remained airborne
Above the drowning longhorn’s

After the storm
I rested under the peppercorn
And I saw new mushrooms rise with the dawn

Ivor Steven was formerly an Industrial Chemist, then a Plumber, and has been writing for 20 years. He is a member of Geelong Writer Inc (Australia), a team member with the on-line blog-site ‘Go Dog Go Cafe (America), and is a writer for the Coffee House Writers Magazine (America).

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Lights Above Bridges, by Ivor Steven

My poem “Lights Above Bridges” was selected by Red Wolf Journal for their up-coming 2022 Spring Edition Anthology, a sincere thank you to the editor Irene for accepting my poem.

https://youtu.be/Z_xnkVhz270

Ivor Steven (c) November 2021

Red Wolf Journal

Lights Above Bridges
by Ivor Steven

Bridges span our invisible years
And carry our many fallen tears
Crossing over old hidden fears

Bridges are burnt over time
Years turn to ashes in an instant
And time is our only constant

Beyond the longest bridges
Under the ocean’s deepest blue
And above nature’s darkest green
Love’s evolving hues renew
And Aurora lights are on debut

Ivor Steven was formerly an Industrial Chemist, then a Plumber, and has been writing for 20 years. He is a member of Geelong Writer Inc (Australia), a team member with the on-line blog-site ‘Go Dog Go Cafe (America), and is a writer for the Coffee House Writers Magazine (America).

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Home is the Air I Breathe,

Published at Free Verse Revolution Magazine, Issue III, ‘hestia’

Again, many thanks to the editor Kristiana for accepting my poems, and for all her hard work in producing this beautiful anthology. The publication features the work of many talented poets, and I can’t wait to read my copy!
Issue III: hestia (hearth & home) is now available to download!

The digital download is completely free but if you wish to donate/pay as you feel, you can do so through the Donate tab.

Issue III: hestia (hearth & home) explores what home means to us all through poetry, prose, photography & artwork. Contributors reveal how it feels to belong, how we are defined by people and places and how Hestia’s legacy lives on.

Below, Home is the Air I Breathe, is the 2nd of my two contributions to this fabulous magazine

Home Is the Air I Breathe

welcome to our home

the house of rustic timber and stone

home is where my heart is now

and now I live here alone

but I am comfortable

wearing the same old shoes

walking her every mile

she’s in every corner stone

she’s in the marrow of my bones

we share the air I breathe

inhaling her gracious spirit

capturing her living essence

absorbing her love into my blood

pumping through my empty veins

cascading upon my open heart

caressing my solitary core

embracing our souls as one

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021

‘Between the Lines’, Published at Free Verse Revolution Magazine, Issue III, ‘hestia’

Many thanks to editor Kristiana for accepting my poem, and for all her hard work in producing this beautiful publication. The publication features the work of many talented poets, and I can’t wait to read my copy!

Issue III: hestia (hearth & home) is now available to download!

The digital download is completely free but if you wish to donate/pay as you feel, you can do so through the Donate tab.

Issue III: hestia (hearth & home) explores what home means to us all through poetry, prose, photography & artwork. Contributors reveal how it feels to belong, how we are defined by people and places and how Hestia’s legacy lives on.

Below, Between The Lines is one of my two contributions to this fabulous magazine

Between the Lines

Do you see, a man walking on water?

Did you see, the refugees bleeding?

Do you read, the missing scriptures?

Did you read, your own family tree?

Do you hear, old angels singing?

Did you hear, the songbirds crying?

Do you feel, the erased eons calling?

Did you feel, the hard rains falling?

Do you know, who is doing the lying?

Did you know, the earth is dying?

List of Contributors: Ken Anderson, Jaya Avendel, Jude Ballard, Enrico Barigazzi, Corrina Board, Constance Bourg, Karan Chambers, Emma Conally-Barklem, Rachel Dickens, Caitlan Docherty, Brianna Flood, Karen E. Fraser, Devereaux Frazier, Rebecca Green, Morgan Hayes, Kevin Hüttenmüller, Laura Jameson, Nameera Anjum Khan, Lamarriv, Richard LeDue, Barbara Leonhard, Lorraine Lewis, Liyona, Dee Li, Charles T. Low, Sarah Beck Mather, Marisela Brazfield, Jennifer McLamb, Emily Mew, Gabriela Marie Milton, Ellie Morfou, Soph Murray, Vanessa Napolitano, Jonathan O’Farrell, Lisa Perkins, T. S. Priest, Victoria Punch, Sunra Rainz, Kristiana Reed, Poppy Revell, Rebecca Rijsdijk, Faye Alexandra Rose, Jasleen Saini, Lara Simpson, Sebastian Nguyet Snow, Ivor Steven, Diana Story, Greta Unetich, Aleksandra Vujisic, Lynn White, Robin Williams, Ingrid Wilson, Howard Young & Lori Zybala.

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021

Cascading Snowflakes, up at the “Autumn Edition” of Red Wolf Journal

A big thank you to Editor Irene Toh for including my poems Cascading Snowflakes and Time Strolls, they were up yesterday, among some great poems by many wonderful writers, in Issue 19 of Red Wolf Journal, an anthologized PDF selection of pieces addressing a “My Dream Of You” theme. 

Cascading Snowflakes and Time Strolls were originally published at RWJ earlier in the year, in their almost-daily journal, surrounded by many other fine works,  so I’m thrilled and very honored to have been selected for the anthology.

And today I shall present “Cascading Snowflakes”

Red Wolf Journal
Issue 19 – Fall 2021
My Dream Of You

Red Wolf Journal

Cascading Snowflakes
by Ivor Steven

A morning blizzard of hailstones
Smothers my old frozen bones
Polarized, I am shivering head to spine
Chilling my chasms of hard lines

Daily coldness unwrapping
Mid-morning thawing, eventually happening
Melting, my eternal iceberg breaks
Into an avalanche of cascading snowflakes

Covering me in a white blanket of crystal firestones
Gradually warming my lonesome bones
Turning my purple blood into glowing red
Clearing heavy fogginess from my head

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2021