Alex Steven (Dad), February 5th 1924 – July 3rd 2015
A Weary Old Plumber, I’m Thinking of You
(Happy Birthday, Dad)
One hundred and two years ago
When dark became day
And the sun shone on you
Did the gods of the world know
How lucky they were
That your sphere of love
Was all-encompassing
Ivor Steven © February 2026
Frankie is “Nine” today, and he has been my owner for exactly 4 years.
Ivor Steven (c) July 2025
Apologies to my followers and readers for not blogging much this weekend. Sorry, it has been a hectic weekend for me and I have run out of “Time” … Market Day, Saturday, and my Dome Poetry meeting on Sunday … I’ll have no breath left to blow out the candles!!
Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is Back-to-Front. To visit their fabulous site, please click HERE
“Tock-tick”, or “47 is 74”
I am seventy-four today
And as I am growing older
I am hearing time ticking
Back-to-front
Sounding more like “tock-tick”
Instead of a steady “tick-tock”
Once upon a time
For every moment
There was a second
Now, in one moment
There are two seconds!
And the old hands
On my rusty sundial
Cannot find time’s
Elusive shadow
Alas, I have searched
Inside out and upside down
For the key to time’s
New age design
“A backless clock
Without any front”
Ivor Steven (c) July 20th, 2025
Happy Birthday Carole
Melting My Heart (a Tanka)
The white fluffy clouds
Cannot stop the Autumn sun
From melting my heart
Around her bygone birthdays
Alas, the years keep passing
Ivor Steven (c) April 17th 2025
My Birthday today (73rd) was a day of celebrations.
* On our morning walkies, we were gifted a beautiful rainbow
* In the afternoon I had the pleasure of attending my Football Club’s (Bell Park) 40th anniversary/reunion of the club’s 1st Senior Premiership in 1984
* Being a close-knit club, everyone knew it was my birthday, so the reunion celebrations were double the fun for me.
* It was well after sunset when I finally arrived back home, and Frankie was happy to receive his dinner, albeit a few hours later than normal …
A morning rainbow for my Birthday (73) … Frankie giving me the stare because he has to stay home.
Me with Jimmy, my Under 18’s coach (1969) and the club President in 1984 when we won our First Senior Premiership. (He’ll be 90 in December)
The 1984 Committee (I was the Social Coordinator), and the 1984 Team Photos
This year’s coach addressed the reunion crowd, and me with some lifelong club friends
Ivor Steven (c) July 20th 2024
Happy Birthday Carole
Melting My Heart (a Tanka)
The white fluffy clouds
Cannot stop the Autumn sun
From melting my heart
Around her bygone birthdays
Alas, the years keep passing
Until Eyes Hear Sound: is NOW Available From,
Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven/until-eyes-hear-sound/paperback/product-jeev886.html?page=1&pageSize=4
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/product-page/until-eyes-hear-sound
Tullawalla is Available From
Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com
Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’
AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:
Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/4yFHWrT
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c) April 2024
“Do not try to live forever, you will not succeed.” George Bernard Shaw
About Today
They say ‘seventy-two’
Is the optimum room temperature
Today, I reached that ideal peak
I am not feeling older or any bolder
But my bones are weaker and colder
And heavy headstones have scored my shoulders
One day, time will have the final say
And while my eyes hear sound
I shall continue to write about today
Ivor Steven (c) July 2023
“When your father’s name is etched in stone It is never as indelible As the etching in your heart” … Colleen Brown
Hello Mate
Happy birthday mate
No, I’m not late
I would have got that stare otherwise
No, never a cross word from your eyes
Everyday, the gentle guy
Yes dad, you were our sunrise
Kindness, compassion, a heart oversized
Yes dad, always by our sides
Everyday, you earned a Nobel prize
Yes dad, always love in your eyes
Tullawalla is Available From
Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com
Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’
AND
Perceptions is Now Available via:
Jaymah Press: https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/
OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com
Ivor Steven (c) February 5th 2023
My Faerie writing book and the words I was penciling today
Salvation Sunday (a Birthday poem for Kylie)
A lazy Sunday afternoon
We are both resting
Frankie is napping/snoring
As usual he lets me share the bed
I am penciling these words
Into my Faerie writing book
A well used birthday gift
From my adorable niece Kerri
She lives in Philadelphia
Here I am in Geelong
We are worlds apart
But joined at the heart
We were chatting earlier
The time difference still confuses me
Yesterday was her niece’s birthday
Kylie is now fourteen
Wow, time flies, she was only ten
When I last saw her
Happy birthday dear Kylie
I miss your gorgeous smile
Hey! I miss all you guys
Cheers from uncle Ivor
Hugs and kisses to everyone
Over there in Philadelphia
Ivor Steven (c) September 2022
I went to a friend’s funeral yesterday afternoon, he was Seventy-one too, and a few weeks ago I went to see him in hospital after he had suffered a bad stroke … He was home alone, and they found him on the floor 3 days after he had the stroke … We went to school together 55 years ago … Last night I was sad and alone with my furry friend Frankie … Today is my 71st birthday, and I am emotionally appreciating life, after suffering 3 strokes of my own in recent times …
Attacked below is a new song by Loner Deer, ‘Leather Hat’ and his lyrics, seem to capture the feelings of my mood and thoughts today.
Loner Deer. ‘Leather Hat’, Lyrics
Today, no one came in my team
But I don’t wanna be the one
Who got no friends, no buddies in the house
But it’s not a big deal ’cause I never be alone
Under my Leather Hat, under my leather hat
This morning I want to play, but Momma said “no”
I have to clean my room but I just wanna be outside
Hang out with my friends, but I don’t have many plans
So, I’m just waiting in my bed and looking on the wall
At my leather hat, at my leather hat
Give me trust and give me wings, I guess some people want it
But I ain’t looking for the fame, I don’t forget where I come from
When Grandpa drives me through the fields
He tells me what I have to think about
That no one tells me what to do
I’m rich, I’m strong, I’m feeling good
Under my leather hat, under my leather hat
Give me trust and give me wings, I guess some people want it
But I ain’t looking for the fame, I don’t forget where I come from
Today, no one came in my team
But I don’t wanna be the one
Who got no friends, no buddies in the house
But it’s not a big deal ’cause I never be alone
Under my Leather Hat, under my leather hat
Ivor Steven (c) July 2022
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 