‘Mind Games’ … WHB – 1956
MIND GAMES
Enigmatic
Covert
Whimsical and wild
Such are the games I play
Whilst mentally beguiled
Hidden within poetry
In discursive verse
My clandestine love affair
Short
intense
And terse
Give to me a reason
Why thus I can’t express
My willingness to capture
My need to seek excess
To open up
Revealing all
Whilst midst the subterfuge
My ego seeks adrenaline
A haven
A refuge
It’s all a nonsense
Words at play
Fending off my fears
Seeking to screen my inner hurt
reality kept at bay
Roland's Ragbag 
Maybe this is the secret as to why we write Roland, as it holds in so many things and keeps other things at bay. I love the artwork you have done with this. Very Dali-esque.
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Thanks, Davy. I drew that many years ago. It was originally called ‘Webster was much possessed by Death.’ Make of that what you will.
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It is one of those pictures Roland that draws you into something different each time you look at it.
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My other responses to comments on this particular blog, Davy, will give you a bit more detail about its inception. (i.e. see Eliot’s ‘Whispers of Immortality’).
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I will have a look at that Roland. Your picture and this post has started a poem forming in my head.
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I look forward to reading the finished article, Davy.
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Love the ‘flip’ from ‘secret sonnet’ to this piece Roland. Though at first glance whimsical and fun, there appears to be more depth beyond the first read, I’ll enjoy some more reads today Thank you
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Read on, Nigel, and thank you.
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Another brilliant piece from a brilliant mind. Your artwork is very ‘revealing’ indeed.
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That is high praise indeed, coming from your own so powerful pen. Thank you, Jerry.
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I find your poetry quite thrilling as you steer us among a number of strong thoughts and emotions. Always beautifully written so I surmise English and poetry always was a big part of your life. The painting does to me talk about our demise….sometime…
Your last stanza rings a strong bell :
” Words at play
Fending off my fears
Seeking to screen my inner hurt
reality kept at bay ”
Keep intriguing us
Miriam
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Thank you, Miriam. I have a long history to draw on. You are right about the painting referring to ‘demise’. I drew it a long time ago when it was originally the result of my studying Webster’s ‘The Duchess of Malfi’ and at the same time I came across T. S. Eliot’s poem ‘Whispers of Immortality’.
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Thought-provoking and brilliant. Seems there are thoughts lurking between the lines. The last stanza seems to send a message to oneself.
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Thank you, Eugenia. Yes, perhaps, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Some of my other replies may explain a little. Or perhaps they will even further deepen the meaning.
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