Stephen grew up queer in a repressive and conformist society, and ended up living in exile in America. Wrestling with Bipolar Disorder and Schizoid Disorder, he started writing poetry to release, to cope, to express what was suppressed to maintain and fit in the facade of "normalcy' in order to survive. This poetry grew over the years to comprise over 10 volumes. Ascetic Fugitive is the sixth volume that collects poems written in his late 30s.