For those who don't know, Cecil B. de Mille (1881-1959) was the founding father of American cinema, the most successful producer-director in history and a legend for working on a truly epic scale, such was his vision, energy and organizational abilities. Having heard that, I decided he might be just the person to call in to sort out the commotion of emotion I was experiencing at the time - hence the poem below. And right now, I think our tumultuous world could also use a little of that Cecil B. de Mille skill.
Above is a photo of my journals kept since ancient times - a testament to the value of writing it out to figure it out since in the end nobody else can do that for me.
Paging Cecil B. de Mille
Where are you now, Cecil B. de Mille there’s chaos brewing in my brain I do believe I have just the role for you come forth with the talents that brought you your name
Take these colliding pathways
orchestrate my ideas as one to perform in perfect syncopation
otherwise I may come undone
I’ve been blindfolded
playing blind man’s bluff couldn’t pin the tail on the donkey
when shadow-boxing I was dealt a near-fatal cuff
The odd one out in musical chairs left standing in suspended animation
miles from the playground
questioning my own creation
Hey Cecil I need a little guidance just a pointer here or there a kind word can go such a very long way do me a favour, take the director’s chair
Shoo away this riot of emotion smooth out these asthmatic thoughts pull the spanner lodging in my works and Cecil, I guarantee I’ll let you call the shots
Tell me where to place my light and on what to set my focus
keep my actions true as I inch towards my locus be my genie, take control, I’ve heard you’re in the know
analyze each frame for me so I don't miss the show
Paging Cecil B. de Mille come quickly, there’s chaos brewing in my brain I believe I have just the role for you please come forth with the talents that brought you your name
© Anne Beverly Brown - 1983