gone

it’s the first time 

since she went 

that i’ve been back here

to this outdoor café

in a crowded square 

by the busy beach 

at the same time

in the late afternoon

i use to come here 

twice every week

after i saw her

spent an hour or two 

with her

in the nursing home

where she lived

for years

today i came here 

at the time i use to

and am feeling sad

as i thought i would be

and thinking lots of her 

while having a coffee

enjoying the sun

and reading the paper

i suppose thoughts 

and feelings 

are expected

coming back here  

as i’m missing her

and still find it hard

to believe

mum is gone

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 had a play run in Spain for 4 years.