Parcels Of Pain

A Video Poem

Jackie Stanley

This is a piece that, in retrospect, seems to speak to the experience of performing on many stages - both literally and in the grand theatre of existence. Alas, here is my face saying words that I wrote. Let me know what you think of these multimedia writing posts!

The mind seethes no longer,

For it has relinquished parcels of pain

from its past


As a marionette brings joy,

         so, too does it injure the hands of its master


The audience perceives such pain as bliss

through potent collective thought


The puppeteer grimaces, handling it well

Trading muscle spasms for kisses


After the show 

and out of the crowd

The mind rests 

in the fleshy doll 

it calls 

home