My Guiding Light
Six years have gone bye
But who counts stars in the sky
Or the passing blue moons
Waving shadows upon blue lagoons
A waterfall’s pool of liquid joy
Shimmering memories, of when I was a boy
I shiver from yesteryear’s leftover rains
And there’ll always be a deep river in my veins
Dad, you were a brother and best mate too
And your ever-loving spirit guides me through
Ivor Steven (c) July 3rd 2021.
Feature Picture Above: The beginning of “Tullawalla”, me and Kerri having a coffee at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Bensalem, near Philadelphia, May 2019
“Tullawalla”, is now available online at Barnes & Noble .. via this link .. Tullawalla by Ivor Steven, Kerri Costello, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
G’day, I’m Ivor, formerly an Industrial Chemist, then a plumber, and now I write poetry. I’ve had many poems published, and recently I had my book “Tullawalla” published. I started writing about 20 years ago. Then, most of my works were kept private in my desk draws. My wife suffered from severe MS and I was her primary carer. Basically my writings were about her, and our trials and tribulations over the 30 years of her illness. Sadly Carole passed 9 years ago and I’ve gradually become more public with my poems and in June 2017 I decided to start a blog site, and I think 🤔 I’m finally getting the hang of it. I hope you enjoy my humble writings, and I live in Geelong, Australia.
Author’s Statement And Bio
During my younger years I was not a literary person, and I only started writing poetry Twenty years ago. I was originally educated as an Industrial Chemist, but then in my late twenties I undertook a Plumbing Apprenticeship with my father, who was sick at the time, and thus I helped him run his Plumbing Business. Life was going fine until I was in my early thirties, when my wife contracted severe MS, and then my life changed completely. I became a full-time carer, and a part-time plumber.
When I was forty-nine I suffered a semi-severe Stroke, and as well as associated physical difficulties, my reading, writing and speech were affected too. That’s when I took up writing poetry, to assist myself to therapeutically regain my damaged abilities, and as a self-help relief for my ongoing anxieties and depression. Throughout all this, I was still a carer for my wife, and she subsequently became the subject of most of my writings.
I’ve poems published in many anthologies, “Melpomene” (a literary anthology), Geelong Writer’s Annual Anthologies, and a range of other anthologies. I am represented in online magazines such as “The Drabble”, “Poetry Festival”, “Vita Brevis”, “Slasher Monster Magazine”, “Spillwords”, and “Free Verse Revolution”. Recently I had a poem published in an interesting Poetry Chapbook, “Sailing In The Wind”, the result of an Ekphrastic Writing Workshop, at Boom Gallery, here in Geelong, and my poem is called “Waiting Time”. I am a active member of Geelong Writers Inc, and in 2019 I was appointed to the online blog/magazine Go Dog Go Cafe (America).
At the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, I unfortunately had 2 more strokes, however I have been able to recover again, and proudly during 2020 and early 2021 I wrote a book from my poetry collection. The book “Tullawalla” has now been published and available online at Barnes and Noble Books
About Kerri: the Illustrator
Kerri Costello was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2 around the age of 2, but never let that slow her down or stop her from pursuing her dreams. At a young age, she discovered her love for the arts. In 2009, she graduated from Hussian School of Art where she majored in Graphic Design, but also studied Illustration.
Since then, she’s used her skills working independently for several different companies, including Forward View Consulting and Rosenau Beck Inc. Family is everything to her, which is why creating the illustrations in “Tullawalla” for her “Aussie Uncle Ivor’s” book, means the world. You can find more from Kerri on her Blog at https://kerricostello.wordpress.com
Ivor Steven (c) June 2021
I find the tears never stop, they just have longer dry spells between the showers……..
“How many rivers of tears must we cry
Before all our deepest wells run dry” … Ivor, May 2012
Rivers Flow By
I sit and watch the rivers flow by
I gaze up and see the clouds roll away
I feel the sun’s warmth is within me to stay
I know my heartbeat is hers every day
I sit and watch the rivers flow by
I look above and see today’s clear blue sky
Ivor Steven (c) May 2021
Here comes one of those days
When my soul feels the light of hope within me
How could I ever forget those days
*Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me*
Now I bless the light
The spirit of those days within me
Forever your star of hope, glows so bright
Always there, shining down on me
Now I thank you for these days
The dance of glory you gave me
Remembering our world’s warm nights and joyful days
How could I forget, that blade of grass you gave me
That everlasting gift, walks with me every day
You’re in my heart every single day, believe me
*Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me* This line, is a line I’ve taken from the Ray Davies song “Days”, they are truly glorious words, and I could not write a better line to suit my poem, than this brilliant piece by Ray Davies….. so now sit back and enjoy his magnificent song…. “Days”
Ivor Steven (c) May 2020
The hardcover copy of my book “Tullawalla” is now available at Barnes & Noble via clicking on this link >> Tullawalla by Ivor Steven, Kerri Costello, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
Hopefully the paperback copies will be out soon ..
“There is Joy Beyond Happiness”
To see my favourite girl smile
To know and feel her happiness
To understand the family’s joy
To bring pleasure to my world
Enough to make an old man cry
My tears of “Liquid Joy” are cascading
My cup runneth over
Cheers and a loving toast all
Ivor Steven (c) May 2021
Preorder E-book via this link… www.books2read.com/Tullawalla
Flowers for the Poet
On the wings of a dove
Hope glides in with love
As pure as a floating lotus
There rests flowers for the poet
This is who I am
This is what I do
I hear white ocean sounds
I see bright blue skies
And I smell the red roses
I watch the busy bees
And I climb our life-giving trees
Where the universe sings to me from above
There is nothing standing in the way
To stop the softening flow of love
Ivor Steven (c) Feb 2021
Inside my creative head
Blooms my minds flowerbed
Nurturing stories not to be misread
I see a pot of sapphire dust and water
The old wizard’s wondrous recipe
And drop by drop the magic potion
Rises beyond a soothing lotion
Above the cloudy clouds cotton wool
My empty sails are only half full
And my mystical galleon ship is drifting
Upon a pool of uncharted writings
Becalmed, I’m listening to a romantic viola
And waiting for a guiding tow from her golden gondola
Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2020.
My featured image above is my response to “The Colouring With B Challenge” (couchtalksblog.wordpress.com ), which is all about embracing creativity and allowing the imagination to go wild. And on a wet and cold Sunday afternoon here in Geelong, this 69 year-old guy was happily doing the “Colouring-in Challenge”, and with my music playing in the background, my mind quickly began drifting into pleasant thoughts…. and I was soon prompted into creating a poem. And with a special thank you to Brandi, here’s my poem
A Welcoming Smile
I fondly recall our blind date
That night I met you
When I gingerly knocked on your door
But I didn’t have to wait long
And there you were smiling at me
A welcoming smile, I shall never forget
Then shyly I introduce myself
And after a second bashful glance
I noticed your beautiful red hair
I offered my arm for a handshake
However you gracefully stepped forward
Graciously sliding your arm neatly under mine
And I saw your eyes sparkling with charm
I finally relaxed and smiled approvingly
Then you happily said, “Lets go and have good time”
A fairy tale beginning to our lifetime of love
Ivor Steven (c) August 2020
Above, my bedroom space this morning….I’m also linking this poem to “Fae Corps Inc” for their ‘Indie Wednesday’ article, and you may visit their creative site by clicking >Here
Lost In Space
I’m leaving this land of lost grace
And flying off into space
It’s time to run-away
My airship left yesterday
Love is a stowaway in the heart
And love needs a head start
Somewhere in this universe
There’s love in the shepherd’s purse
Ivor Steven (c) June 2020
Togetherness
I remember
Bringing you two into my house
And quietly I sat with you
Upon my courtyard bench
You were both
Dry and lifeless
I diligently prepared your beds
And gently tucked you two in
Wishing you a bright and prosperous future
With care and love
Under my watchful eye
Together you flourished and adorned my home
And together your arms reached out
Embracing each other
Now here together
We live together as one
Ivor Steven (c) May 2020
