temptation By Stephen House

i remember a night 

just before dawn 

howling moans of fear 

echoing 

down that lane 

night ghouls dragging 

ourselves 

back to the grimy holes 

from where we came 

and went 

no shame 

wind against our sequins 

beating of the rain 

flea pit palaces 

cry always the same

wobble back 

mumbling

once more 

never again 

temptation 

is such a nasty game 

making blame

pain of easing pain

same conclusion 

nil remains

i do remember nights

before and after dawn 

no gain 

our game

repeat

Stephen House has won many awards and nominations as a poet, playwright, and actor. He has been commissioned many times, and had 20 plays, and several word and image exhibitions and short films produced. He has received international literature residencies from The Australia Council for the Arts to Canada and Ireland, and an Asialink India residency. His chapbook “real and unreal” was published by ICOE Press Australia. He is published often and performs his acclaimed monologues widely...