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 was another important part of our trip to Tasmania, when we went to the Port Arthur Historic Site, the location of the infamous Port Arthur convict Penitentiary, where our great great grandfather spent 14 years of his life, after which, he moved to the Northwest coast area of Tasmania, where he married and raised the first “Steven” family of Australians in the 1850’s …
At entrance of the historic site… and firstly we went on a cruise around Carnarvon Bay leaving from Mason Cove
The cruise crew, Terri, Maureen, Lee, Jeff, and Nola … Mason Cove and the Penitentiary
The grim looking Penitentiary building
Reading some of the stark history and the bleakness of the 4-storer building
The cells were only 4’ wide ….
The Penitentiary was devastated by fire in 1897 leaving only the masonry walls and barred windows … the exercise yard
The penal colony covered a huge area … whoops … “we are behind bars”
Maureen and Nola up above the Guard Tower
That concludes a nostalgic look into the often unmentioned part of our family’s intriguing history
Ivor Steven (c). April 2023
Our reward for all managing to get ready early was to visit Launceston’s famous Cataract Gorge before we traveled to Hobart
In morning sunshine a Peacock greeted us at the entrance to the park
We all went on the chairlift to the other side of the picturesque gorge
Where there was a wallaby to greet us … Terri and me on the chairlift
We drove down to Hobart to catch the afternoon session of Hobart’s popular Salamanca Market
Nola and Maureen and Mt Wellington in the background above the Market
At the market with Maureen… later we had dinner and drinks down on the waterfront to finish off another fabulous day of our trip to Tasmania
Ivor Steven (c) April 2023
“I love penguins, for they walk like they’re going to hug someone.” -..Fathima Shamla
Penguins (a Haiku)
Penguins do waddle
Feet splayed with welcoming arms
All they need is love
Ivor Steven April 2023
Early Friday morning in Launceston and we going to Wynyard, the main mission of adventure in Tasmania
More green rolling hills and then a refreshment break at Devonport … Terri and Maureen
Next stop Penguin (my choice) and the beautiful beach at Penguin
We all enjoyed visiting Penguin … Terri, Nola, me, Jeff, and Maureen
Penguin and I’m feeling quite at home
On our way back home we stopped at Deloraine and go over the Meander River
The sun is setting and it’s time to head back to Launceston for a well earned sleep
Ivor Steven (c). April 2023
3.40 am, and Frankie wakes me up 20 minutes before my ‘alarm’ was due to ring … good doggie… and between my sister and Frankie, I manage to catch the Airport bus on time … 90 minutes later I am at Melbourne airport…
Another 90 minutes I’m finally on the plane with my 5 cousins, and up through the clouds we fly to Tasmania …
Up through the clouds we soar and above the clouds we fly
We leave the picturesque Richmond village and head up to Launceston, stopping at Ross on the way … Nola in front of the rustic Ross Bakery … we liked the old fashioned Bakeries
Ivor Steven (c) April 2023
Forty-seven poets and writers with astute observations about living, emotions, and our world were featured online in The Short of It publication in 2022. The best of their thoughts fill the pages of this compilation. They will leave you with rich impressions, some providing mysteries to ponder but also many which speak deep truths. Each piece by the poets and writers presented in this collection shows us, with depth and succinctness, what was on their minds. Every one of their poems, as the title of this book suggests, brings to the surface their “reflections and revelations.”
A big thank you to Susi Bocks for editing and producing this outstanding Anthology, and I am proud to have been selected as one of many in a talented list of writers.
“The paperback version is available on Amazon.com NOW!! To get your copy, please CLICK THIS LINK! “
Here are my “Short” poetic entries in Anthology:
Facades
Wearing your best vest
Is not necessarily a truthful test
A facade for a restless chest
Again
Summer’s golden plains
And stormy rains
Erase winter stains
After Twilight
Starry, starry nights
Shine on, shine on bright
Please stay, please stay within sight
Earthquake
I feel the earth quake
Fracturing tears off my soul
Tremors from my heart
Hail
Hailstones, hard as nails
Falling frozen razor blades
Storm’s icy sharp balls
Ivor Steven (c) April 2023
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
The Crescent Moon and Venus 6.10pm, April 23rd
The Universe of Love and Light (a Tanka)
The Moon and Venus
Crystalize the twilight sky
Together they dance
She, in the crescent moon’s arms
Love unites the universe
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
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
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 