Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the vibrant celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the Creative Geelong Group. Hosted at the Makers Hub — the beating heart of Geelong’s creative community, nestled in the Centrepoint Arcade on Little Malop Street — the event brought together artists, innovators, and supporters in a joyful gathering of shared vision and local pride.
Jen Cromarty, our dynamic and dedicated chairperson, welcomed guests with heartfelt reflections on the group’s journey, from its grassroots beginnings to its current role as a catalyst for creativity across the region. The evening buzzed with conversation, laughter, and the hum of possibility, as members mingled among storefronts and installations that showcased the diversity and depth of Geelong’s creative talent.
As the evening unfolded, the celebrations were punctuated by moments of surprise and delight — including a raffle draw that added a splash of serendipity to the night. I was fortunate enough to win one of the prizes: a captivating painting that now rests in my care. Its expressive strokes and vibrant hues seem to echo the energy of the event itself — a reminder of the artistry and generosity that define our community.
Ivor Steven (c) November 2025
Today’s Throwback Friday poem is drawn from my upcoming book, Time Hears No Sound. It appears in Chapter 2, Nature: An Unbiased Timekeeper
Winter Sun
What my careless eyes perceived
My unprepared senses
Soon, I found out that they had been deceived
The day appeared sunny enough for a stroll
And I ventured into the afternoon cold
Ten steps out, a glacial wind took hold
The blustery arctic blast
Snapped every limb within grasp
My breath turned into icy glass
My ears were stabbed by frigid darts
My cheeks were slapped by gloves of frozen brass
And the winter sun failed to warm my heart
Ivor Steven (c) November 2025
I didn’t set out to chase wattlebirds — they found me, mid-flight, mid-thought. These photos are fragments of that encounter: wings flared, feathers streaked, sky split open. What’ll I do with them? Share them, I suppose — with wonder.
And there’s more …
So what’ll I do with my wattlebird photos? I’ll let them speak — of flight and freedom, of fleeting beauty and quiet persistence. In each frame, a story hovers: not just of the bird, but of the moment I paused to notice. May these images carry a little of that stillness to you, too.
Ivor Steven (c) November 2025
Summer will be here soon, and Frankie was well overdue for a haircut
Frankie, before and after his groom this morning
Ivor Steven (c) November 2025
Featuered Image Above; Theo, tethered but tenacious — reaching for the light once more.
** Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word Epic. To visit their wonderful site, please click >> Here.
Back in early June, readers might remember my poem about “Theo” the tomato tree — a bold little sprout defying the odds. I’m pleased to announce that Theo has survived an arduous winter. Today, beneath the mulch and morning mist, there are tender signs of regrowth. >> https://ivorplumberpoet.press/2025/06/09/bold-and-defiant/.
Like good Doctor Who
Theo’s regenerated
Will he produce fruit?
Ivor Steven (c) November 2025
Featured Image Above: Yesterday’s silhouette. A crow arcs through the sky— fractured wings, tattered heartstrings. Time flies, but never asks permission.
Time Flies
I need to escape the fray,
and fly away from yesterday.
Time does not feel the undertow;
Time is hungry like a crow.
But how far can I go with fractured wings
and tattered heartstrings?
Time does not need a manager —
Time carries no passengers.
Ivor Steven (c) November 2025
“Frankie the Salesman, master of the lucky-dip and poetry protocol. Cavalier by nature, befriending by heart.”
Frankie the Salesman
Here we are, under the glass-roofed part
Of the covered Centrepoint Arcade.
The spring sun is decorating our book stall,
And my salesman is in charge of poetry protocol.
The ‘Take a Poem Home Lucky-dip’ is again very popular
My furry assistant has been willingly jocular,
And appropriately, befriendingly cavalier.
Ivor Steven (c) November 2025
Featured Image Above: Yesterday’s café visit lingered in my thoughts… and became this poem. A world briefly unbroken.
The first 8 images are from my walking track this morning, and the last 3 images are from my sister’s walking track in Smythsdale.
A World Briefly Unbroken
Through the gate we go,
To find today’s silhouettes and shadows,
And to replay nature’s unspoiled show.
Spring has finally awoken;
Blue sky has ceased being a hidden token,
And this mad world of poisonous potions
Briefly hovers before our eyes, unbroken
Ivor Steven (c) November 2025
Today’s Throwback Friday poem is drawn from my upcoming book, Time Hears No Sound. It opens Chapter 3, Time: Hears No Commands—a section that explores the quiet rebellion of nature and spirit against the ticking of the clock.
Flying Through Time
Flying below the clouds
or
Zooming above the bay
or
Swooping across the paddocks
My wings
are oblivious
to the climb
And do not hear
the sound of time
.
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
Ivor Steven (c) January 2025
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 