Author: ivor20

G'day, and welcome to my blog site. My name is Ivor Steven, I live in Geelong, Australia. I'm an ex-industrial chemist, and a retired plumber, and a former Carer of my wife(Carole), for 30 years, who suffered from severe MS. I Write poetry about those personal thoughts, throughout and beyond my life as a Carer. I've been blogging for over 2 years, and writing poems for 19 years. Of course a lot of my poems are about my favourite subject Carole, but since I've been blogging my writings have become quite varied, humourous, mystical, observational, and even a few monster/horror poems.

I’ve Been Poetically Crystalized and Initialized

In December, my poem, “Invincible Pieces” will be published in a strikingly noteworthy way at the Creative Geelong Makers Hub. An exquisite sign was expertly painted on the front glass door of The Third Space Gallery, 132 Little Malop St, Centrepoint Arcade, Geelong.
… My poem is part of the “Damaged” Display, which includes “15″ artists’ interpretations of a broken ginger jar, over various disciplines.  “bringing new life and finding beauty in the damaged and discarded”…





My Poem, “Invincible Pieces”













All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm


Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)


Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)


Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books


OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) December 2024

Christmas Market Weekend, “With a Little Help From My Friends”

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Monthly Colour Challenge is Red. Please visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here

The “Creative Geelong” Christmas Market was on Friday evening from 5.00 to 9.00 pm and Saturday from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm. Because of the stormy weather on Friday, the crowd was a bit light; however, on Saturday, the attendance was good.
Frankie and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My ‘Lucky-Dip’ bucket of poems again proved to be a fabulous way of meeting and chatting with the customers. Meanwhile, Frankie also received plenty of friendly pats and some extra doggie treats.

The Bottom Right Image: me and my neighbouring stallholder, Jen Stevens (Pottery), a school friend of my stepson, Greg Steven, from “40” years ago …

Bottom Images: Santa’s little helpers delving into my “Lucky Dip” bucket … It’s nearly closing time, I’ve run out of Lucky Dip poems, and Frankie and I are waiting to pack up …






Ivor Steven (c) December 2024

Throwback Friday, Is There More?

Featured Image Above: A painting by, Carole Steven.

Earlier in the week I attended the hospital for a ‘one-day’ procedure, and my recovery from the effects of the anesthetic has lingered on for a few days, so my poem from January 2022 is quite an appropriate “Throwback Friday” article for today.



Is There More?

Beyond my front door
Will there be more?

When the lights a dim
I quietly sit and stare
To see what is out there

Is there more?
Than starlit stairs
And when will I?
Begin the climb











All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm



Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)



Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)



Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books



OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) December 2024

To Fly Above the Sky, is in this week’s Coffee House Writers Magazine edition.

Hello, dear readers and followers. I write for Coffee House Writers magazine (USA) fortnightly, and my poem “To Fly Above the Sky” is in this week’s edition. …
To Read my poem, please click on the link below to visit the article, at Coffee House Writers Magazine.
>> https://coffeehousewriters.com/to-fly-above-the-sky/













All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm



Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)


Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)


Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books


OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) December 2024

Reflecting the Light (a Tanka)


Over at Weekly Prompts, the Wednesday Challenge is; Decorations. Please visit their fabulous by clicking on >> Here.
My ‘Tanka’ is about the magnificent Decorative Light I photographed at twilight time yesterday evening.





Reflecting the Light (a Tanka)

The magpie’s wings glow
Under the clear twilight sky
Like the Milky Way
Decorates our universe
With incorruptible light











All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm



Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)



Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)



Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books



OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) December 2024

A Step Beyond Shadows (a Tanka)

Image credit; Pixabay ( free for use)
In response to Sadje’s, “What Do You See”, prompt
>> https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2024/12/02/what-do-you-see-265-december-2-2024/

A Step Beyond Shadows (a Tanka)

An archway of trees
Cast shadows over my path
The light glows brighter
As I dare to step beyond
My uncharted existence




Creative Geelong Christmas Market Weekend

Hi, dear readers and especially my Geelong Followers. Come to the Centrepoint Arcade on Friday, December 6th, from 5 pm to 9 pm, and Saturday 7th, from 11 am to 3 pm.
I’ll be there at the “Ivor’s Books” stall with my books “Tullawalla, Perceptions, and Until Eyes Hear Sound” and various other Anthologies and Chapbooks. They could be that “Something Different” gift idea for Christmas.








Ivor Steven (c) December 2024

My World Is Like An Opal





My World Is Like An Opal

Some days are rainy
Other days are windy
Most days are sunny

Nature’s days are diamonds
My days are like opals












All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm



Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)


Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)


Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books


OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) November 2024

Shangri La, Volume 11. Serene Memories

FREE PDF COPY >>> Links Below

Hello, dear readers and followers, as you might know, I stopped producing my “Tullawalla Booklets” at # 31, because that was the house number of our family’s Tullawalla Homestead.
But the booklet formats are a superb way for me to catalogue the vast number of poems I produce and as the saying goes “I Am Turning Another Page”. Here I have begun a new series of poem booklets, called “Shangri La” which is the name of my little Villa, and is my piece of “earthly paradise, a retreat from the pressures of modern civilization”.
Incredibly, I now have “1853” Poems filed in these booklet formats!!
(on my bookshelf I have “The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, which contains 1775 poems … when I first started writing poems, I never envisaged that I would produce so many poems)

Click on >> HERE.   for the link to your FREE: PDF Copy of “Shangri La, Volume 11, Serene Memories

** Over at Weekly Prompts, It’s their end of the month, “One Day” Prompt. Please visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here
My “Shangri La” Booklet took well over “One Day” to compile and produce.







Serene Memories


I live in a time zone
Where a peaceful river flows
Through the heart of my home

Down the road, toward the South
The Ocean’s shimmering memories
Convey a tranquil taste
Of sea mist to my mouth

And not far away, toward the North
The mountain’s eucalyptus fragrance
Serenely follows me back and forth






Ivor Steven (c) December 2024