around here by Stephen House

i am not alone in having achieved an element of standing around here, and as is often the way when one with any clout meets another, at first there is a delicate distance, for territory in our world is competitively volatile and steadfastly defended, although if one operates with integrity and clarity and proves oneself by his dealings, then a bond sealed with respect often develops, as it has between me and a new bloke hanging around here, happily carrying the nickname i gave him, ‘the captain,’ and even though he seems brittle, he does pull off some clever moves away from my terrain, and i’m sure has been a captain amongst men in his time; he’s since given me the nickname, ‘the general,’ and i suppose that says it all regarding who is who around here. 

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. Stephen’s play, ‘Johnny Chico’ has been running in Spain for 4 years and continues.