queer me by Stephen House

               Richard P J Lambert CC


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queer me

angry man sits in car 
screaming into phone
i walk past
glance at him 
impinged upon by booming rage 

what the fuck are you looking at faggot he spits     
at me

i say nothing
make my strolling escape

he drives by fast and loud 
holds up menacing finger 
skids aggressive wheels

fucking faggot he spews     
at me

i don’t feel wrath 
just warning bells
chiming loud and strong 

i am me
queer
mostly happy  
sometimes fearful

i have been kicked down before

poor him
a product of his stuff
locked into whatever place it is

car roaring
face burning with hate 
eyes glaring         
at me

for being me
queer me

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Stephen House: has had many plays commissioned and produced. He has won two Awgie Awards (Australian Writer’s Guild), an Adelaide Fringe Award, First Prize Rhonda Jancovich Poetry Award for Social Justice, The 2018 Goolwa Poetry Cup, and First Prize 2018 SA Writers / Feast Short Story Prize. He has been shortlisted for: 2019 Lane Cove Literary Award, 2018 Overland’s Fair Australia Fiction Prize, Patrick White Playwright and Queensland Premier Drama Awards, the Tom Collins, Robyn Mathison, Eyre writers, Mindshare Poetry Prizes (and more), The Di Cranston Script Award, and a Greenroom best actor Award. He has received Australia Council Canada and Ireland literature residencies, and an Asia-link India literature residency. He has seen his work published, including by Currency Press, Australian Script Centre, Australian Poetry Journal, Third Street Writers USA, Page and Spine, The Blue Nib Ireland (and more), and many literary websites internationally.  His poetry collection “real and unreal” was published by ICOE Press Australia in 2018. He continues to perform his acclaimed monologues, “Appalling Behaviour” and “Almost Face To Face” widely.

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