Two Poems

 

Stephen House

 

 

 

 

self-preservation

 

 

silence knows conceal of stifled queer young self

kept tight vigilant under wrap in never give my all

careful instilled damage residing in thrown chains

dragged along by experience regardless as they dish

put down cards to remove shadow of privately safe 

 

so i floated away to hidden no name bliss destination

for sweet acceptance relief from lectured draining calm 

to soft vision harmless shell of no expectation burden

without abuse process adding toil to how and why path

obvious  returns in who cares elation of run fast escape 

 

and fuck their taught lessons since born glimpse told

instilled frozen dread of alone when human complexity

was not spun by doctrine heterosexual churching values

or biding by rules of no choice made to cry sorry twice 

for me is not on offer to them of unnatural changing plan

 

rhyming inner agenda through persuaded knot in mindful

by internal direction ordained psychology taught analysis

education in social norm drives convention in exist try

work living and expected interaction delivers cold tedium  

to view unfolding destroyed into obscured by adherence 

 

but self-preservation designed by realization life known

without measured layer expectation drowning internal truth

offers combination of one-ness that is fact of all-together 

teaching avoidance of dictated pushed enquiry conveying be

of circling still point in time universal honesty delivers win

 

 

 

 

Yoga (at sixty)

 

 

dawn calling all-weather in nature awaking

day harmony rising respecting environment

moment time follow outside trees surrounding

sip hot tea warm cold natural gratitude beauty

birds singing chirp gabble bell chiming horizon 

reflection gift glimmer union element living

joy morning share incense begin always practise

in devotion pray thankful supreme being known 

truth ritual spontaneous stretch slow morning limber

tight body extremity gentle moving free loosen

warm up once choice is now need older descending 

care body as given method cautious essential 

sun risen mat lay down hard grounding foundation

remind birthing expire return in time grant by source

sun salutations repeating gratitude be each sequence

asana awareness change day as revolving

as seasons drift sliding appreciation life presence

adjusting of slowing grow acceptance self-being

pranayama different cycle control inhale exhale

essential span force vary years sameness wander

physical less complex albeit meditation extended

reflect age soul-dwell calm mine Yoga (at sixty)

learned wisdom of voyage known ego departing

mind body relaxing divine one-ness in conscious

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen House is an award winning Australian playwright, poet and actor.  He’s won two Awgie Awards (Australian Writer’s Guild) , Adelaide Fringe Award, Rhonda Jancovich Poetry Award for Social Justice, Goolwa Poetry Cup and Feast Short Story Prize.  He’s been shortlisted for Lane Cove Literary Award, Overland’s Fair Australia Fiction Prize, Patrick White Playwright and Queensland Premier Drama Awards and Greenroom best actor Award.  He’s received Australia Council literature residencies to Ireland and Canada, and an India Asialink.  His chapbook real and unreal was published by ICOE Press.

 

 


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