Christmas Eve, Frankie Goes To Ballarat

The day before Christmas, and as usual, we are traveling to Ballarat for the week to enjoy the festive season with our brother and sister. My brother kindly drove down from Ballarat to pick us up.

Frankie is packed and ready to go … Frankie is in the back seat on the way to Ballarat


Frankie quickly makes himself at home in the bedroom and on the lounge with my brother, Lawrie


Then, after dinner, we go for a pleasant walk up Black Hill.


At the end of the day, Frankie is due for a good night’s sleep







Ivor Steven (c) December 2025

A Christmas Lament, or, Lazy and Crazy






A Christmas Lament, or, Lazy and Crazy

Maybe my weariness is making me lazy,
But to save myself from going crazy
With obscure objects
And animated artifacts,
I’ve reluctantly decided
To send my annual Christmas cards
In a digital format—
An emailed photostat.
Hopefully, everyone will understand
That Father Time is now in command.







Ivor Steven (c) December 2025

The Magpie’s Letter


“The quiet grace of a magical magpie who knows the season has turned.”




The Magpie’s Letter


Oh, Dear Santa Claus,
I’m wearing my old dancing slippers,
But my weary claws
Are stuck in the bushes.

‘Tis Sunday morning before Christmas,
So, best I release myself
And rejoice in your festive business.
Say hi to all the fairies and elves,
Then pin my flying stockings
Upon Ivor’s empty mantle shelf






Ivor Steven ©  December 2025

“Always Deck the Hallways”, is in this week’s Coffee House Writers Magazine edition.

Featured Image Above: Moon adrift in daylight— a quiet reminder to deck the hallways of time, not just December.



Hello, dear readers and followers. I write for Coffee House Writers magazine (USA) fortnightly, and my poem “Always Deck the Hallways” is in this week’s edition.
“A festive stroll through words and wonder—Always Deck the Hallways brings poetry to the season.”
To read the poem, please click the link below to visit my Coffee House Writers Magazine article.
>> https://coffeehousewriters.com/always-deck-the-hallways/







.


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 ©  December 2025

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

Stars

Last Sunday morning I attended the “The Dome Poets” Christmas Party ‘brunch’, and we were each to bring a short poem about our poetry group (Secret), which was then folded and drawn from a hat, and recited by the drawer, and then we had to guess who wrote the poem … A very enjoyable session indeed, but I didn’t guess the authors too well … Haha, I got mine right! and one other …

Featured Image Above: The Dome Poets Group, taken at our Anthology book launch in June




Stars (My Poem, for the Dome Poetry Christmas Party)


Another year has been and gone

Today our words are secretly drawn

We’ll open our eyes and hear the peaceful sounds

Of our poems being eloquently unbound

A time for the Dome’s stars to be crowned








Ivor Steven (c) December 2023

A Cup of Coffee on The House 





A Cup of Coffee on The House 


Fantasy. 

A powerful Pacific Albatross 

Gracefully landed on fairy-moss 

That covered my welcoming pathway 

And graciously handed me a sacred Mandala 


Reality. 

The postman delivered a special parcel today 

A belated Christmas gift from America 

A wonderful hand-painted coffee mug 

And this afternoon I enjoyed 

“A Cup of Coffee on The House” 

Thanks to my friends at Coffee House Writers 







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) January 2023