The Play's The Thing
Dream shadows stalk the paths of night
like trespassers. They infiltrate our minds
and tell us stories we would wish to leave
unheard. Our free will bows to honour sleep,
and sleep is quick to gather in the reigns,
driving us towards its chosen goal.
There, we act a part we have not learned,
have not rehearsed, yet we deliver lines
because we find ourselves at centre stage.
We have no script as guide, but improvise
as best we can in every nightmare play.
Written for d'verse in the wee small hours of the morning.
whew...yeah not a fan of nightmares...fairly decent at thinking on my feet but so much can happen in a dream...on a side tangent saw some really good improv to a cypher here locally...those guys and gals were talented on their feet poets...
ReplyDeleteAnd this is precisely why we can learn about ourselves from our dreams.
ReplyDeleteYeah play through the nightmare and beat it at its own game, as we can learn quite a bit, if we care to look.
ReplyDelete"we act a part we have not learned,
ReplyDeletehave not rehearsed, yet we deliver lines
because we find ourselves at centre stage.
We have no script as guide, but improvise
as best we can"
I do this when I am awake, too :) Your words are so very true. nicely penned.
ha - sounds familiar...happened to me a few nights ago...and i started writing as well...as a saxplayer i'm used to improvise...and it's good if we can...
ReplyDeleteThere, we act a part we have not learned,
ReplyDeletehave not rehearsed, yet we deliver lines
because we find ourselves at centre stage.
One of the great gifts of continuing to engage our unconscious mind is that over time we can learn to direct dreams. I find now that if I enter a nightmare I can begin directing its plot and in the worse case scenario when this doesn't work I can wake myself up. This empowerment in dreams has been important to me.
Hey,
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this poem.
Why is it we feel like an actor in our dreams - a puppet? I feel this way too, yet surely it is I or we who are the producers, the directors, the lighting etc.... Unless... we are just the actors... Do you think steven speilberg is the PUPPETMASTER! lol. Great write man...thanks for making me think.
For in dreams our words do dance away from the pen that bleeds them.
ReplyDeleteA very perceptive poem. I never thought of nightmares that way, but of course, you're right.
ReplyDeleteThoughtful treatment of dreams. I find, like Mark, that there's a lot to learn from them. I'm glad you stopped by the pub and gave me a chance to discover your poetry.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what you can do in your dreams. Mine are peopled by folks I've never met and you wonder where they came from. Great piece.
ReplyDeletei had a nightmare last night, yuck.
ReplyDeleteExcellent portrayal of the mystery of night's haunting features.