
Today’s Throwback Friday poem is from February 2019, when I was preparing myself for a trip to America/New York/Philadelphia, to visit my Philadelphia “cousins”, and today, here I am on Vancouver Island visiting my Canadian “cousins”.
Dusty Passport
Here I was resting, home again from the hospital
After a second stroke had laid me up
I was rekindling thoughts of travelling to America
An adventure Iβd always promised myself
Night is not always dark, you know
Firstly, I had to find my passport
Yes, Iβd hidden it somewhere safe
After turning the bedroom inside out
Then, throwing the lounge room upside down
The lost document was on a garage shelf
Looking dusty, but still only five years old
Jumping for joy, youβd think Iβd found gold
Hardly ever been stamped, a Chinese one, thatβs all
Many years have passed since my last call
I clasped that passport firmly in my hand
And I said, βItβs timeβ, before my clock runs out of sand
Ivor Steven (c) August 2025

Beautiful poem, dear Ivor. I greatly admire your resilience and fortitude. I read somewhere that some people leave their passports in a suitcase; makes sense to me. Hope jet lag isn’t too bad. Enjoy your fabulous reunion! π₯°ππ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Iβve just woken up after a solid 9 hours sleep and Iβm on my cousinβs WiFiβ¦ everything is good, and Iβm very pleased you enjoyed my poem, itβs a piece that has been hidden away for 6 years β¦. Cheers from Vancouver Island π¨π¦ππ€πβ¦ oh, Iβm in my element here, they have 3 cavaliers to play, Mungo is only 3 months old πΆπΆπΆ
LikeLiked by 3 people
Sleep will always set you straight. π΄ Welcome to North America, dear friend. π Can’t wait to see your pix. Three cavs? What great fun; they are so cute! πΆπ€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ivor, wow, I really like how βbefore my clock runs out of sandβ brings the whole piece togetherβit feels both urgent and tender at once. Such a moving snapshot of resilience and wanderlust. β€
Much love,
David
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much indeed, Davidβ¦ it was a nostalgic poem for me to revisit and appropriately here I am at my cousinβs house in Canada π¨π¦π€π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Would you mind if I share it as a reblog at some point in the future?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Iβd be very honoured my friendβ¦ ππ
LikeLiked by 2 people
π€
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, I flew directly to Vancouver/Canada, bypassing America ,,, and here I am at my cousins house, about to get up and have some brekkie after a solid 9 hours sleep, Violet π¨π¦πππΆ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect re-share for this time. That is a looooooong flight!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Iβm here!! In North Saanich, Vancouver π¨π¦ππππΆ and they have 3 little Cavalier doggies for me to play, Mungo is only 3 months old πΆπΆ
LikeLiked by 3 people
Woo hoo! Fun stuff π
LikeLiked by 2 people
A great poem, my friend!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Dwight, and here I am in North Saanich, Vancouver ππ¨π¦
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fabulous photos, poem and song, Ivor! π
Are you there yet? Are you there? Ha! I know you are! And I know you are having fun already! π
OOH! I remember when you traveled to see your Philadelphia cousins! Loved the reread on that poem! π
(((HUGS))) and take care! β€οΈπ¨π¦β€οΈ
PS…I get joy-tears in my eyes thinking about all of this…after all you went through with the strokes, hospitalizations, etc., you getting to travel all the way to see your American cousins was so exciting and lovely! π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes yes,and, yes β¦ it was an amazing time for me, and now itβs another dream come true again, Carolyn β¦ I slept like a log last night and this I got to meet the doggies of the house (Cavaliers) Archie, Mungo, and Kelly πΆππ¨π¦π
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0a90t7sdncTfJkz1QOgDrV1jg
LikeLiked by 2 people
OH, my gosh and golly! Those sweet faces! What cuties! Please give Archie, Mungo, and Kelly some pats and love for me!
πΆπΆπΆ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, they are gorgeous doggies, and they have taken to me, because they can smell Frankie on me β¦ Iβm getting to pat them lots πΆπΆπΆππ¨π¦π
LikeLiked by 2 people
π β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ:-)
LikeLiked by 2 people
wonderful poem and glad you’ve arrived!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Beth β¦ first was a restful one, and a get meet you day β¦
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yay, good thing you found it Ivor. And it’s nice to know you are still travelling to see your kins.π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Arlene. And here I am in Canada, Vancouver Island, North Saanich ππ¨π¦π
LikeLiked by 2 people
I hope youβre enjoying your trip and are well rested.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Sadjeβ¦ itβs taken me a day to get over this long trip but this morning Iβm feeling ok and Iβm for todayβs activities πππ¨π¦
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thatβs great
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautiful poem! Getting something back always makes us happy π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your lovely words, Pritiπ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Welcome π€
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wonderful poem, Ivor. Hope you are having fun! π€©ππβ€οΈ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you kindly, Cheryl β¦ Iβm all rested up and ready for todayβs adventure ππ¨π¦ππΆ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Perfect throwback, Ivor. Β βbefore my clock runs out of sandβ, speaks volumes, and very relatable. Have a wonderful time, my friend. β£οΈ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Eugi β¦ and Iβm here!! in Canada, Vancouver Island, North Saanich ππ€π¨π¦
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yay! Have fun! π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fabulous, Ivor, and as one of your longest followers, I remember those days well. π
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you kindly, Sue β¦ itβs been a long journey, and fortunately, here I am again, able enough to embark on another fantastic adventure ππ¨π¦ππ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Enjoy this wonderful holiday, Ivor xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is lots to enjoy,Sue ππ¨π¦π
LikeLiked by 2 people