Category: Friendship

Together in the Box Office Cafe 

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is: Sleep … please visit their fabulous website by clicking on >> Here.
I’ve been busy the last several days, an open mic’ night, a big fun afternoon at the Box Office Cafe (Poem below), Creative Geelong Market Day, and tomorrow morning it’s my Dome Poetry Group’s monthly meeting … And tonight, I am very “Sleepy”



Together in the Box Office Cafe 

 
 
As is Frankie’s way 
In his cute and friendly manner  
He invited three young ladies  
To join us at our table 
And as in Tullawalla’s, ‘a meeting place’  
We quickly became cheekily friendly and chatty 
They were inquisitive about what I was writing, 
and my books, ‘Perceptions’ and ‘Until Eyes Hear Sound’ 
 
The three “train-driver” ladies jokingly agreed 
“Youth is wasted on the young” 
Then, Ivor, Frankie, Carla, Mandy, and Emily 
Shared pup-cups, cappuccino, and latte 
Along with some neuro-cool glasses  
Of vodka, prosecco, and martini 
 
Thanks to the ladies, we had a fun afternoon 
Frankie lapped up all their extra cuddles  
And Carla kindly purchased 
Signed copies of, ‘Tullawalla’ and ‘Perceptions’ 








All Books. Now Available At:

Creative Geelong MAY’D Shop,
Shop 15/Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong
TRADING HOURS
Thursday-Saturday
11am-3pm


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 direct for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com





Ivor Steven (c) June 2024

The Booktown and a Bookmouse

Hello dear friends and followers, here is my report/summary of my four-day trip away to the “Clunes Booktown Festival”

* Thursday Evening. After dinner, I was out walking Frankie, and when we returned home there was a special parcel on my doorstep, a freshly baked fruitcake, for me to enjoy while I was busy at the bookstall. (Thank you to Roberta, a fellow daily walker)
* Friday Lunchtime. My brother and sister arrive from Ballarat to take me, Frankie, and my Car back to Ballarat (My siblings understand my deficiencies)
* Friday 3.30 pm. I drove up to Clunes (only 15 mins from Ballarat) to set up my bookstall. There were no tables in my allocated Marquee, but after phone calls to the appropriate organizers, the tables were eventually located and placed in the Marquee.

Friday afternoon, waiting for a table – Agatha’s, Lounge & Wine Bar

* Friday 6.00 pm. I found a quaint bar to chat and drink with other authors before we attended the “Introduction Event”. At 7.30 pm I was super tired and decided to head back to my sister’s in Ballarat for dinner and a well-earned rest.

The Clunes Town Hall and other historical buildings in Clunes.

.
* Saturday 8.15 am. I headed off to the Clunes Festival for a 9.00 am start and I met the other vendors in our Marquee.

My neighbours, Karen and Damien

Our Marquee held ten Book Stalls

Overall, not many books were sold, however, I had a wonderful time chatting with customers, and my “Lucky Dip Bucket, Take a Poem Home”, was extremely popular.

Saturday 5.00pm. It was time to close up and head home to Ballarat.

Sunday Morning. Another 9.00am start, but I decided to take Frankie to the Festival as my little helper. While walking from the car to the Marquee, a young lady kindly offered to carry Frankie’s fold-up camp chair. I thanked “Louise” for friendly assistance, and later on she came to my stall and purchased a copy of “Until Eyes Hear Sound”.

He instantly became the centre of attention, which coincided with my increased book sales. We finally shut shop at 4.00 pm, by which time I was definitely looking forward to the Clunes Booktown Festival’s closing chapter. While we were packing up, a young lass from the “Phairytale Bookfolds” stall in our Marquee, presented me with a magical gift, which personified the friendly aura within our Marquee, and the little “Bookmouse” was a perfect finale to an amazing weekend.



Monday Morning. After a long and restful sleep, it was time for me and Frank to return to Geelong, again with the invaluable assistance of my wonderful siblings. (heartfelt thanks to Miffy & Lawrie)








Ivor Steven (c) March 2024

My Lounge Suite (a Haiku) Written by, Frankie

Over at Weekly Prompts, the Colour Challenge for January is: Purple . Please visit their fabulous site by clicking on >> Here

Please Note: All attached photos of ‘me’, were taken by, ‘my best friend’





My Lounge Suite (a Haiku), Written by, Frankie



Come sit beside me

Scratch my ear, and shake my paw

My home is your home








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) January 2024

A Poem About Me, by Fellow Dome Poet, Emma.

Featured Image Above: A photo of the Geelong Library, affectionately known as “The Dome”

Seven days ago I posted a poem called “Stars”, a piece about “The Dome Poets” Christmas Party ‘brunch’, and where 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.
Today I am presenting a poem from that Day, by a fellow ‘Dome Poet’, Emma, and the piece was a Christmas Ode about ‘me’ , and Emma kindly gave me her poem, “The Wordmaster” (attached below) when the party concluded …




A Poem About Me, by Fellow Dome Poet, Emma.


By, Emma Jones, The Dome Poetry Group, 6/12/2023









Ivor Steven (c) December 2023

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

In The End

“When you’re sad and when you’re lonely and you haven’t got a friend
Just remember that death is not the end” … Bob Dylan


In The End


Destiny has his say

In the oddest of ways


Destiny has his way

Even on the finest of days


In the end

We do not have a say


At the end

Finality overtakes our stay








Ivor Steven ©  July 2023

Be a Domino (a Tanka)




Be a Domino (a Tanka)


Assistance aids all

The receiver grows stronger

The giver gains love

Together, friendships thrive

Join the domino effect









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) May 2023

St Patrick’s Day at Murphy’s Pub

The cheery crowd were having a good old-fashioned Irish Gathering, enjoying the traditional Irish Guinness and the jovial Irish Music, by two fabulous bands (while I was there) … “Madigans Wake” and “The Poachers”, Videos Attached Below

The two Irish Music Bands, “Madigan’s Wake” and “The Poachers”

Me with a Guinness and smile and some of the happy patrons

Late afternoon and it was crowded … we had a good spot behind the sound mixer.



An Irish Pub (a Haiku)


What more would I need

Guinness and Irish music

On St Patrick’s Day













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://www.amazon.com.au/Perceptions-Ivor-Steven/dp/1387487302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RD27PWFI9JPS&keywords=perceptions+by+ivor+steven&qid=1676894211&s=books&sprefix=Perceptions%2Cstripbooks%2C1174&sr=1-1

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) March 2023

Glassy Eyed

Celebrating the 50th year of Bell Park Cricket Club last night. Fifty years of memories and everlasting friendships.



Glassy Eyed



Saturday evening

The midnight hour

Whizzed by

Unbeknown

To the celebrating crowd

My friends are overly generous

And continue to make sure

My schooner is always full




I was keeping count

But that foolish tally

Is now nullified

And I am highly rarified


Sunday morning

Seven hours later

I am feeling brittlely vitrified

And glassy eyed






Ivor Steven (c) November 2022

One Land (a Haiku)

One of best Haiku, according to some of my fellow poets here in Geelong, which I penned in June 2020
Featured Photo Above: A painting by Carole Steven



One Land (a Haiku) Tullawalla, page 119



Upon our torn earth

Let’s sit around the camp fire

One circle of sand






Tullawalla is Available From;

Jaymah Press:https://www.jaymahpress.com.au/

Ivor Steven: email, ivorrs20@gmail.com

Amazon: search via, ‘Tullawalla by Ivor Steven’



Ivor Steven (c) November 2022