The Ekphrastic poetry workshop I attended on Wednesday was an inspiring event, and here I have written a tanka about a clay figurine as depicted in my Featured Image above.
Worldly Smirk (a Tanka)
I do not know you
But your glassy eyes know me
Why that worldly smirk
I have a million questions
Do you have all the answers
Ivor Steven (c) May 2022
I am ecstatic that during this month of personal remembrance for me, to have my special poem/Tanka, “Rivers of Love” published at Spillwords Magazine today, and I am very grateful to the editor Dagmara for accepting my piece .. Pease go and visit my poem at Spillwords and if you wish, leave a 💗 for my article, by clicking on this link >> https://spillwords.com/rivers-of-love/
Rivers Of Love (a Tanka, with an introduction quote)
Written by, Ivor Steven
“How many rivers of tears must I cry. Before all the deepest wells run dry” …Ivor Steven, May 2012
The hail’s coldness stings
An old wind pierces my eyes
As yesterdays tears
Etch raw ravines in my cheeks
Her rivers of love run deep
Ivor Steven (c) April 2022
Running Out Of Time (a Tanka)
Time is eternal
We live and die over time
Unfinished business
Is left hanging on the line
No more time, our only crime
Ivor Steven (c) April 2022
I am one human
Why are you so inhumane?
Can you see the light?
Shine over humanity
You! One ion-less atom
Ivor Steven (c) April 2022
The harsh baltic winds
Whistle through frozen borders
Destroying old trees
And crushing dead Ukraine leaves
Then depart as Russian thieves
Ivor Steven (c) March 2022
Introduction
Naked I stand before Him
Stripped of common decency
Debased, I kneel crying
Sad words fall like rain
Tanks are still rolling
Over the Ukraine
My Tanka’s are scrolling
Down their bloody drains
Tanka #1. Sad Sky
False words smudge old clouds
Gray clouds hang under sad sky
The sad sky decries
“Children are our butterflies
And please stop the warring lies”
Tanka #2. Broken Biscuits
Life is imperfect
Like broken war-time biscuits
Re-connection waits
Reconciliation stops
Life’s sweet shortbread’s unopened
Tanka #3. Abandoned
May the stormy winds
Calmly abate in Europe
And bring peace quickly
Do not forget the children
We cannot abandon them
Epilogue
Cover me
Give me beauty
Inspire me
Calm me
Save me
From that deadly bee
Above the Black Sea
Ivor Steven (c) March 2022
Feature Image Above: Longstitch Craftwork by Carole Steven.
Dreaming in a Dream (a Tanka)
You were in my dream
I was dreaming in a dream
Sailing a calm sea
Floating on a warm current
Adrift in your universe
Ivor Steven (c) February 2022
Featured Image Above: Of the Kananaskis Mountains, Alberta, Canada (West of Calgary), taken by my uncle, Dick Meyer (Dec.), from August 1997 …
From The North
Winter will not die
Nor relinquish his title
Without a cold blast
Howling over frozen bones
Of ancestors who have passed
Ivor Steven (c) January 2022
Featured Image Above; and the two images below, are photos from Derrick Knight’s recent post “Pool Patterns”, and you may visit his article by clicking on this link
>> https://derrickjknight.com/2021/12/16/pool-patterns/
Pool Patterns
Future Skies
An old graceful world
Shimmers upon mirrored pond
Timeless images
Nature’s blameless history
Awaits future smogless skies
Ivor Steven (c) December 2021
Under lock and key
The past can not be opened
Lunar history
Locked inside the universe
Beyond the stars of freedom
Ivor Steven (c) December 2021
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 