Category: Family

Internation Women’s Day, My Women

Remembering “My Women”, my dear wife, Carole, and my amazing mother, Esther …
Thank you, Bella, for encouraging me to post this poem today …
>> https://thoughtsnlifeblog.com/2025/03/07/an-ode-to-women-in-honour-of-internation-womens-day/



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 are my rhyme
My mother’s of thyme

Helping me roll away the stone
Maintaining these old bones
Repairing the bridges, I have burnt
Reciting the messages, I have learnt
Cheering from the sidelines
Supporting my broken designs
Women of My Rhymes
Mothers for a lifetime






Ivor Steven (c) March 2025

Under a Clear Blue Sky, I’m Thinking of You (Happy Birthday Dad)

Alex Steven (Dad), February 5th 1924 – July 3rd 2015





Under a Clear Blue Sky, I’m Thinking of You
(Happy Birthday Dad)

One hundred and one years ago
When the summer sun
Arose for you
Did the afternoon moon?
Shine on you too






Ivor Steven (c) February 5th 2025

Throwback Friday, The Woman In Me

Me, sitting on Mum’s knee. … L to R, Carole, Aunties Elizabeth & Pearl, & Grandma

Grandma, and her 3 daughters. … My mum (left) and her lady relatives



G’day readers, It’s Friday morning here in Australia, the day after my mother’s birthday and Mother’s Day is this Sunday. Today’s Throwback Friday poem is, from September 2019.


The Woman In Me


Inside every man

There is a woman

The mother of his soul

The lady of his heart

The kindness in his touch

The passion in his blood

The woman who fostered

The way he shows love







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/

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



Ivor Steven (c) May 2024

Centenarians

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

Throwback Friday, Beyond Imagination

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

Frankie’s Weekend

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

Happy Birthday Mom

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 Leave Tasmania


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

Today at Sunrise (a Tanka)


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