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.