Category: Birthday

Throwback Friday, Under the Snow (a Revisit)

A special poem I wrote, after I’d taken my Lady to the hospital for the last time, on the day of her 65th birthday, fourteen years ago. 

Hello Carole, time goes by, and my heart has not moved …


Under The Snow

We emanate to a birthday.
We deflate to a final day.
Birthdays, they all come, they all go.
Birthdays, in the sunshine, under the snow.
Birthdays, slow to mature, quickly an eon.
Birthdays, before we are born, after we are gone.
Birthdays, hanging on by a breath.
Birthdays, nailed to a cross ’til death.
What does it all mean to be alive and cry?
What does it all mean to live and to die?






.


Until Eyes Hear Sound

Amazon >> Amazon.com : 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 … and I can send you a PayPal account,
for the Book, plus Postage.


Ivor Steven ©  April 2026

A Weary Old Plumber, I’m Thinking of You (Happy Birthday, Dad)


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

“Tock-tick, or “47 is 74”

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

A Day of Celebrations

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

Melting My Heart (a Tanka)

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/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com



Ivor Steven (c) April 2024

About Today

“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

Hello Mate

“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/

Lulu Books: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ivor-steven-and-derrick-knight/perceptions/hardcover/product-2pwqe4.html?q=Perceptions+by+Ivor+Steven&page=1&pageSize=4

OR: email me directly for a signed copy – ivorrs20@gmail.com

Ivor Steven (c) February 5th 2023


Salvation Sunday (a Birthday poem for Kylie)

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