i should
 
i take part in an online discussion
and know i should stay with it
as it could assist me with something
but i leave the chat and go outside 
under the full moon
and watch bats flying high in the sky
 
my grape vine is spreading
across the neighbour’s fence
into all their trees
and i should do something about it 
but i don’t as i like its rapid climb
and the visual chaos it delivers 
 
i need a new car urgently
so on the way back from the city
i stop at a car yard i’m told is ok
and almost go in there
but instead i drive off in my old car
singing a song above all the rattles
 
my passport has expired
and lately i’ve been thinking of travel
so i look up renewing information
as i should get this sorted out
but i don’t read the renewal website 
as there are way too many words
 
as i walk towards the water
a man tells me a shark was just seen
i thank him for the information
and know i should not swim here
but i wade into the ocean anyway
and swim out deeper than usual

a fabulous publisher contacts me
offering to publish my next poetry book
i am excited by the opportunity
and know i should go for it 
but the idea of a book launch is daunting 
so i refuse and suggest we do it later   
 
i should answer text messages
pay unpaid bills 
and respond to emails
but instead i sit under a friendly tree
and start writing a poem 
about everything i should do




Stephen House has won many awards and nominations as a poet, playwright, and actor. He’s been commissioned often, and 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 poetry is published often. His next book drops soon. He has performed his acclaimed monologues widely. Stephen’s play, ‘Johnny Chico’ ran in Spain for four years.