Knowing a little bit about the nature of acting, you've covered several of the intimate and private aspects of the art. Perhaps most appropriate, "...as the actor and state attain their harmony started only from assumptions..." If more patrons of acting could understand the dynamics of that sentence, we would not only have more attention paid to creating a stretch for the patrons while being subjected to ideas perhaps beyond their immediate comprehension, thus, more drama about reality, less about bombs, bullets and sex. Don't get me wrong, they are also part of reality, but powers that be, be they corporate, or art house makings, have reached a point of beating acting into our brains. Unfortunately, most of the beatings result in just more beatings with sequel this and sequel that. Yes, there is much forgetfulness in remembering one's " previous self."

Aren't we all actors on a stage where we sometimes forget our lines or lose sight of who we are supposed to be, who we are as the actor in life's plan. Your poem has inspired interesting thoughts. Thank you.

Except for the last few lines I love the way you portrayed "the actor" in this enlightening poem.

While I can act a role (like being a professor in a classroom) very well with compassion and humor and have worn several hats throughout my career, I have always feared going on stage in an acting role for one reason: I do not memorize anything except for a few old songs from my youth and then, not all of the lyrics.

I have a process brain. I look up all information because I don't store it in my head memorized, taking up space and interfering with my thought processes. So I would have a very hard time memorizing my lines and then getting them right unless the role was ad lib or impromptu and that I would be fine because I wouldn't have to worry about getting the lines exactly the way Shakespeare or whoever wrote them wanted me to act.

But your poem had a purpose that was different. I would never embrace the role of memorizing dogma or following without question what others have written.

Ron