“her seagulls” published by Albany Poets USA / Literary Veganism USA
“rock” published by Broadkill Review USA
“salvation” published by Global Poemic / experimental-experimental-literature USA
her seagulls if i’m heading to my room late or grabbing food or a beer i always say hello to a tall woman who stands by the corner on and off from midnight until dawn most nights outside of a burger shop and she always says hi back to me or we just smile and wave she usually wears the same maroon dress short with a plunging gold neckline and red boots with stiletto toes and heels with her thick long blonde hair dropped over one shoulder in front and there are always seagulls around her last night i bought a vegan burger on my way home from a bar and sat inside the shop though not purposely but in view of her spot and she didn’t mind me there and gave me a nod as she chatted to passing men and then leaned in the window of a black car to talk to the driver before he pulled away a guy in the shop near me finished his burger and left and she came inside immediately as he did and checked his scraps and what was left took outside to the squawking flapping seagulls that had followed her to the door and fed them chips and bun remains and then came back inside again and took scraps from another spot where a woman had been eating and i commented on her feeding seagull activity and she said in her deep voice “i do it between customers because i love the seagulls and they love me” she then went back outside as a silver car stopped and fed her seagulls got in the car and it drove away while the seagulls and i watched her disappear all of us knowing our friend would soon be back standing on her corner rock i place a large rock on the footpath and sit in a park to watch a woman with a child approaches rock child stands on rock and mother takes a photo with her phone they walk away from rock an elderly man with a ginger dog pass rock man glances at rock and dog pisses on rock they walk away from rock dog’s piss on rock dries in the sun two teenage boys attempt to jump rock on their skateboards one boy does it successfully other boy tries several times but does not make it over rock he falls on rock and path successful boy laughs at failure they skate away from rock a young woman with bare feet stops at rock she sits on rock and lights a cigarette takes out her phone and sends a text message she stands and makes a phone call starts shouting into phone and kicks rock i think she is crying she limps away from rock still shouting into phone i go to rock and cover rock with flowers i picked in the park i can smell dog’s piss and cigarette smoke i leave rock and go back to the park a man dressed in an orange gown passes rock he stops and looks at rock and walks away from rock he returns and places flowers on rock lights a stick of incense and lays it on rock holds his hands in prayer and walks away from rock i go to rock and on my knees i worship rock a rat peeps at me from under a bush near the footpath i think he says something but i can’t be sure rat and i stare into each other’s eyes i cry and rat cries we stop crying and smile at each other i thank rock for my life rat thanks rock for bringing me to meet him rat can speak rock is god salvation hopeful genius dirty collar situation wonder claiming biting pencil scratching guess crossword puzzle giving answers chewing gum tied back hair fiddle greasy grey pot smoking is anyone granting wish on hope be it lost or found in this pink-lipped mummies designer gym suits platform sneakers outing granted selfie shots gossip babble murmur giggle text on phone takeaway coffee gripping sipping keeping fast step separate pacing walk hard team power beauty temple pouting flee delivers health deal constructed business suits let’s go hey mate cool in awesome check out new porn up online no lunch spot sit down here allowed in shut down mode pull compensation feel strange new life in whine did you see gay dude look at you paranoia sings fear gamble and them dot tightly small group thrice on well-mowed lawn hedge square as kids run shouting cake shop gifting waiting birds squawk hopeful scrap day party happen easy rules social distance not held why new work style no job or school manipulation welfare scandal and me alone same time day night no change i still cruise wander a swim they say no too cold bloke gape smile back on chat concern in plunge to sea remind my real salvation claim i scribe own journey pack my bag when restricting travel lifts gain back my queer life amble Bio: Stephen House has won many awards and nominations as a poet, playwright, and actor. He’s had 20 plays produced with many published by Australian Plays Transform. He’s received several international literature residencies from The Australia Council for the Arts, and an Asialink India literature residency. He’s had two chapbooks published by ICOE Press Australia: ‘real and unreal’ poetry and ‘The Ajoona Guest House’ monologue. His next book drops soon. He performs his acclaimed monologues widely
Fevers of the Mind 