Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He became a writer out of necessity. Along with song writing, poetry allowed him to make sense and accept events and situations in his life.
He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the first two novellas of his sci-fi trilogy, The View from Here and The Second View, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
Lines by Leon is a selection of poems, prose, and short stories that address the subjects of loss, struggle, and reflection. Inside these thoughtful contemplations are original observations about ego, behaviour, human relations, places, and the environment. Many of the pieces feature a lighthearted and even humorous take on a subject, and the author invites his readers to laugh, think, cry, and meditate on the wide variety of thoughts scattered throughout the book are sketches of various subjects, many that relate to the poems and stories they illustrate; others speak for themselves.
A collision of ideas and a wonder of words. Remember when you first learned that a grouping of owls was a parliament?
In his second poetry collection, Leon Stevens explores familiar themes such as human nature, the environment, and personal observations, many with a touch of humor. Also included are the poems from the 30 Poems in 30 Days Challenge and a short story inspired by one of them.
LAUGHTER
Yes, I hear it
But I’m not grabbing onto it
It’s not mine
It’s yours. Mine’s here somewhere
I’m saving it
(for what I don’t know yet)
A little sneaks out from time to time
It makes me smile
A brief respite
From the dusk emerges
A little light
__________
ADDICTION
Addiction is a hand
On your back
Pushing you forward
Without regard
For the crowd
Addiction covers your eyes
So that you cannot see
The harm being done
Addiction plugs your ears
And makes you oblivious
Addiction shushes you
When you try to ask for help
Addiction is strong
Until you face it
Unblinking
Unmoving
Then it cowers and slinks away
As you kick, kick, kick
Giving it
What it deserves