Yes it’s that time of the year … Here is another annual Anthology that my poems have been published in. This is one has been produced and published by the Belmont Page Writers group and superbly edited by our convener Claudia Collins. Three of my poems were published in this fabulously presented Anthology. They were, “Have We The Backbone?”, “Out There, Right Now”, and “Afloat”
I am thrilled to announce that three of my poems were selected for publication in the prestigious Geelong Writers Inc. Annual Anthology, 2022, and I am honoured to have my words published in a journal along side a group of talented writers that I admire and who have mentored me for many years.
I have two poems, “Fragments Float, Tears Splash” and “The Disappearance Of Decency”, in the Poetry Chapter, and the other poem, “Love Is Not Declined”, is in the Romance Chapter
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.
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…
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!
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”
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
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
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
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.
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).
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.
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).
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
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 