calm wind
Stephen House
constructing a world
from nature walks and silent gratitude
makes sense
if that’s what’s needed in the moment
wrapping up the issue and sitting with it
is a useful plan for removing
what has buried itself in
too deep
yes i do know what real love is i say
to the café girl who smiles at my reply
and then i sip my coffee
so black so strong
i don’t care about all that now
and what a relief to let go
i do remember how to put up my tent
and that is true useful
line up for an adventure or idea
repeating the mantra of on i go on
i go on or sink back into fuck this
as the world dips again
did you learn what you were told to
i patted dogs while world-travelling
ran soft with calm wind
fell into oceans to escape new pain
Stephen House has won many awards and nominations as a poet, playwright, and actor. He’s been commissioned often, with 20 plays produced, and many published by Australian Plays Transform. He’s won two Awgie Awards, Adelaide Fringe, Rhonda Jancovich Poetry, Goolwa Poetry, Feast Short Story Awards and more. He’s been shortlisted for Lane Cove Literary, Overland’s Fair Australia Fiction, Patrick White Playwright, Queensland Premier Drama, Greenroom best actor Awards and more. He’s received Australia Council Ireland and Canada literature residencies. He has had two chapbooks published by ICOE Press Australia. He performs hit acclaimed monologues widely and has had a play run in Spain for 4 years. His poetry is published often, including in ē·rā/tiō.