At ‘The Dunes’ cafe/restaurant, Ocean Grove, near Mum and Dad’s old family home, “Tullawalla”.
Centenarians
Today
We had a family remembrance party
For our dear departed parents
They were both born in 1924
One hundred years ago!
Today
We gathered to celebrate
Their love and loyalty for each other
And to proudly honour
The love and incredible support
We all unconditionally received
Ivor Steven (c) May 2024
I wrote “Beyond Imagination” 5 years ago, while I was in rehab, recovering from my 3rd stroke, and somehow preparing my body for a long and arduous trip to Philadelphia. The attached poem below, “Dreams of the Heart” is a piece I wrote in Philadelphia, in May 2019.
Beyond Imagination (Revised)
This year (2019), after Easter
I’m flying north
Across the Pacific Ocean
Towards a place called America
From the west to the east coast
Landing at the Big Apple
To enjoy a five-day tourist bite
Then a train from Grand Central Station
For a debut meeting with my cousins in Philadelphia
My Dad’s far-away relatives
I shall rejoice in the reunion of our family’s spirits
Oh yes, my lifetime “Dream of the Heart” **
A dubious occurrence just two months ago
But now a reality beyond the realms of my imagination
** “Dreams of the Heart”
I cannot walk the continents
Like the intrepid Marco Polo
But my feet have felt the sands of time
Pass between my toes
I have not sailed the high seas
Like the courageous Christopher Columbus
But my body has bathed
In an ocean full of kind hearts
I’m yet to fly in space
Like the brave Neil Armstrong
But I have reached for the stars
And touched my soul’s dreams
Ivor Steven (c) February 2024
Saturday: My brother’s birthday party day
Frankie loves catching up with Aunty Tum
The birthday party feast
Frankie is impressed with the birthday cake.
Frankie makes himself comfortable after the party
Sunday: Ballarat’s Botanical Gardens & Lake Wendouree
It was time to visit the spectacular Botanical Gardens
With Frankie of course
The Picturesque Lake Wendouree
Frankie chats to the swan. Lawrie, Frankie, & me, sitting beside the Lake
Monday: Going back home to Geelong
Frankie’s happy in his car seat. The old Lal Lal Railway Station. The Lal Lal Falls Hotel
Frankie’s in his car seat. The historic Elaine Hotel. Elaine’s new Roadhouse Grocery Store.
The wind turbines near Elaine … but ironically, I’m running out of puff. It’s now 11.15pm Monday here in Geelong, and to produce this post has been a task on my little TV Computer … My desktop computer is back in Ballarat being repaired by my brother and the process could take a while …
My brother turned 71`and I turned 72 back in July, so this old Neil Young song seems appropriate for “Frankie’s Weekend”
Ivor Steven (c) October 2023
Mothers (a Tanka)
Happy Mothers Day
The queens of my universe
Your stars light my sky
Every day and every night
On my bended knees, I stay
Ivor Steven (c) May 2023
Mom’s birthday and Carole’s birthday were not far apart, and appropriately they enjoyed a very close relationship …
Today is my mother’s birthday, and next Sunday is Mothersday, and coincidently, today was also Carole’s funeral day … Here is my tribute to those 2 magnificent women in my life…
My Women
After I had left the hem
Without women
I could not have survived my time
I would not have braved the climb
Ladies you were my rhyme
My mothers of thyme
Helping me roll away the stone
Maintaining these old bones
Repairing the bridges, I had burnt
Reciting the messages, I had learnt
Cheering from the sidelines
Supporting my broken designs
Women of my rhymes
Mothers for a lifetime
Ivor Steven (c) May 9th 2023
It’s time to tidy up my mess
Clean up the room and get dressed
It’s time to pack my suitcase
Fill the travel bag and vacate this place
It’s time to put on my famous rocker shoes
And walk away from this dream come true
It’s time to say heartfelt goodbyes
To these wonderful Philadelphia guys
It’s time for final hugs and kisses
Sad farewells and best wishes
It’s time for my usual emotional tears
That have been stored away for years
Ivor Steven (c) May
Please Note: All photos in my article today were taken by my cousin Maureen, and she kindly allowed me to reproduce them here on my poetry website.
Today at Sunrise (a Tanka)
Dawn on Anzac Day
My cousins are in Torquay
United they stand
Remembering their fathers
Peace they cry, “Lest We Forget”
Ivor Steven (c) 25th April 2023
Put another log on the fire, while I travel to Tasmania with the two Philadelphia girls and three other Aussie cousins … Thursday 27th April – Monday 1st May
Afterglow
After a frenetic time
I feel like a burnt-out hollow log
My charred core is clinging
Onto nature’s dampened fringes
Of Autumn leaves and fallen branches
Where flora stealthily regenerates
Steadily, my diminished cavern
Is growing wider
And my ambient lantern
Is glowing brighter
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 2023
I posted the below “Faeries and Books” article way back in December 2019.
Faeries and Books
Cousin Maureen, Christine(from Go Dog Go Cafe’s website), cousin Terri
Faeries And Books
Australia is a far away land
Only reached by ship or plane
Today, I saw the Ben Franklin Bridge at my door
Distant fairies were knocking, a message for Ivor
From my Philadelphia cousins, Maureen and Terry
They went to a Pop-Up Shop, a writers library
To meet Christine, our chief of ‘Go Dog Go Cafe’
Who signed a book for me, and a joint photo for my display
Cherished Thanksgiving gifts, to make my heart beat
Now I’m looking forward to my cousin delivering the treats
“On Sunday, at the start of their stay, my cousins (The Good Faeries) Maureen and Terri, presented me with the signed copy of “Smitten” that they had purchased for me way back in November 2019 … I had totally forgotten about the Antology and their gift was truly a very pleasant SURPRISE!”
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 2023
Wednesday :
We visited the historic Paper Mill tourist area in Fyansford, and then the adjacent scenic Barwon River Valley and Buckley Falls
L-R. In the foreground, the viaduct channel that powered the Paper Mill — Maureen in front of a Bluestone storage shed — A pair of Tawny Frogmouth Owls
L-R. The girls and Frankie — A signpost deplaying some local aboriginal township names — Frankie and the girls
The Weir on the Barwon River above Buckley Falls, which fed water into the old Paper Mill viaduct — Frankie and Maureen
Wednesday, Late Afternoon:
I took Terri home for a much need rest and Maureen and I continued on our way to Corio Quay and Rippleside Beach.
At Corio Quay, the ‘Spirit Of Tasmania’ , the Bass Strait ferry from Geelong to Tasmania
Rippleside Beach, which is at the end of Geelong’s unique “Bollard Trail Walk” around Corio Bay.
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/bollards/article/item/8d250a1f01e3425.aspx
The promenade section of the trail that bridges a inlet … looking back to the waterfront area in front of the City of Geelong.
Below: a short video of our view across the Bay toward the City.
Wednesday, Laterer: At the Moorabool Valley Chocolate Cafe before we went home to arouse cousin Terri
Me and my ‘cheesecake’ — The model train/railway in front of the kitchen area.
At the end of the Cafe’s carpark there is a lookout over the Moorabool Valley
Thursday:
In the morning the girls had to pack ready for the next “cousin interchange”, cousin Dennise from Torquay at 2.30pm, and then we went down to the charming Pakington St.
The girls did some shopping and we returned to the ‘Box Office Cafe’ for Lunch.
The gorgeous West Park — the girls in my courtyard waiting to be picked up — goodbye to my dear cousins Maureen and Terri, for now, until next Thursday(27th) a group of us (6 cousins) are flying over to Tasmania for a 5-day tour.
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 2023
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 