Paging Cecil B. de Mille

Paging Cecil B. de Mille

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