slam smashed crushed of once alive 
earth falling 
by stark hit hard reprise 

smacking new over recurrence continue
grip on twisting 
wonder why kill living

going on is what never expected we wait
destruction quantity 
now exposed in blood

disappearance of wilderness gapes painful
collective creepers 
refuse our stop extinction	

breathing in smoke of distress us contribute
asking multiple help 
without relief in need 

wonder void hopeful conclusion waiting 
i knew a life 
of joining cohesive once 

realized it but end riddle deepened sharp 
confronted remembering 
before sang my begging  

choice of your dream whatever for imagine 
pray to pull motionless 
steady need corpse silent 

leap mixed colours not before seen striking 
coughing planet 
struggles to whistle relief 

wish of life then continual barrage destroy 
empty eventually 
sinks us down	to vanish 

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Stephen House has won many awards and nominations as a poet, playwright and actor. He’s received several international literature residencies from The Australia Council and an Asia-link residency. His chapbook “real and unreal” was published by ICOE Press. He’s published often and performs his acclaimed monologues widely.

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