Christmas Eve, Frankie Goes To Ballarat

The day before Christmas, and as usual, we are traveling to Ballarat for the week to enjoy the festive season with our brother and sister. My brother kindly drove down from Ballarat to pick us up.

Frankie is packed and ready to go … Frankie is in the back seat on the way to Ballarat


Frankie quickly makes himself at home in the bedroom and on the lounge with my brother, Lawrie


Then, after dinner, we go for a pleasant walk up Black Hill.


At the end of the day, Frankie is due for a good night’s sleep







Ivor Steven (c) December 2025

A Christmas Lament, or, Lazy and Crazy






A Christmas Lament, or, Lazy and Crazy

Maybe my weariness is making me lazy,
But to save myself from going crazy
With obscure objects
And animated artifacts,
I’ve reluctantly decided
To send my annual Christmas cards
In a digital format—
An emailed photostat.
Hopefully, everyone will understand
That Father Time is now in command.







Ivor Steven (c) December 2025

The Magpie’s Letter


“The quiet grace of a magical magpie who knows the season has turned.”




The Magpie’s Letter


Oh, Dear Santa Claus,
I’m wearing my old dancing slippers,
But my weary claws
Are stuck in the bushes.

‘Tis Sunday morning before Christmas,
So, best I release myself
And rejoice in your festive business.
Say hi to all the fairies and elves,
Then pin my flying stockings
Upon Ivor’s empty mantle shelf






Ivor Steven ©  December 2025

A Shadow From Above, or, In Retrospect

“A shadow becomes starlight—dreams tethered, then set free.”

“There’s a thin line that separates courage from stupidity. And that line is only visible in retrospect.” ~Benjamin Franklin.
Over at Weekly Prompts, the Weekend Challenge is the word Retrospect. To visit their fabulous site, click >> Here




A Shadow From Above, or, In Retrospect


I sensed a shadow fall from above,
Then I saw the image of a dove,
Transgress along my causeway.

Am I being led stealthily astray,
Or am I to follow my dreams into the hay?

Traverse my future’s highway,
Escape this meandering essay.
Loosen my tethering tourniquet.

I shall fly beyond the Milky Way –
In my ITMIMS open sleigh.
Where shadows dissolve into light,
And dreams take eternal flight.



* ITMIMS – Ivor’s Time Machine In Micro Space







Ivor Steven (c) December 2025

Frankie’s Market Day

7.00 am, walkies time, and Frankie spots a Rabbit

.

8.00 am Breakfast, then a short nap before we go

.

9.00 am In the car, ready to go, and the local magpie waves us goodbye

.

9.30 am, We are at our Market stall. Frankie is helping me set up shop.

.

10.00 am, and we are all set and ready for market opening time

.

Frankie seems to have everything under control

.

.





Ivor Steven (c) December 2025

 Geelong Writers Anthology 2025


On Wednesday evening, I attended the launch of the 2025 Geelong Writers Anthology. My poem, “A Darwin Orange Sunset”, appears in the collection, and I was genuinely honoured to be selected by my peers at Geelong Writers Inc.

The gathering was held alongside our Christmas Break‑up night, which added a lovely sense of community and celebration to the occasion.

I’m also pleased to share that the poem will feature in my upcoming book, Time Hears No Sound, in Chapter 2: Nature — An Unbiased Time Keeper.


A Darwin Orange Sunset



Twilight’s
Burly orange sky
Bedazzled my eyes
When
The hessian horizon
And the sun’s waxing resin
Flung
Streams of yellow beams
Across the paddock’s
Furrowed seams

Golden ponds
Flooded
Over the meadow
But did not drown
The field’s residing
Scarecrow

The arbitrary warrior
Accepted the world’s
Rotary mirror
And innately smiles
About being a human’s
Privileged curator




To accompany the poem, I’ve chosen Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” — a song whose quiet ache and twilight glow echo the mood of the piece.




Ivor Steven ©  December 2025

Throwback Friday, The Voice (a Monologue)

Today’s Throwback Friday poem (originally written in September 2023) is drawn from my upcoming book, Time Hears No Sound. It appears as the second poem in Chapter 7, Governments and Leaders: Behind the Times




The Voice (a Monologue)

Do not yet shut your doors
But give me leave to speak with you and yours
Do not yet turn away?
The time I ask of you is brief for what I have to say
Join me in the shade of this country’s trees
My ancient words are free
But why listen to a language you cannot see
In the past, you have not heard my pleas
Forever! I have been treated harshly

I am a dream-time spirit bird
Flying within your boundaries seems absurd
You! Have clipped my wings
And unashamedly ripped apart my kin
You! Desecrated my sacred ground
For the price of two axes and a Pound
Yes! It’s time to sit without descent
On the sand inside your tribal tent








.


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 … and I can send you a PayPal account,
for the Book, plus Postage.


Ivor Steven ©  December 2025

Last Chance Xmas Market this Saturday

We have our Last Chance Xmas Market this Saturday. Starting at 10am-3pm – loads of stalls with art, ceramics, prints, vintage, collectables, books and more! Plus open art studios, the May’d Shop, Untether Gallery, HBT Collectables, Yesterday Vintage, tarot readings at Hot House and more vintage at Pearl & Brawne. Grab a unique gift from local makers and creators.

All undercover at
Centrepoint Arcade
132 Little Malop St, Geelong

I’ll be at the “Ivor’s Books”, (and Frankie), stall with my books “Tullawalla, Perceptions, and Until Eyes Hear Sound”, as well as various other Anthologies and Chapbooks.
They could be that “Something Different” gift idea for Christmas.







Ivor Steven (c) December 2025