{Poetry (Extracts) [continued (9)]}[13th June 1990]

[Redbook7:145-146][19900613:0840i]{Poetry (Extracts) [continued (9)]}[13th June 1990]

19900613.0840

[continued]

‘A poem* is a pattern of words, and it can be made very largely in the subconscious mind, just as the often very complicated plots of dream are made.

Indeed, as poetry often moves in a dreamlike manner, not by logical steps, but by means of irrational associations, some of which would be rejected by the fully waking intelligence, it is quite natural that a man should make use of his own subconscious talents as well as his conscious ones.

It has been said, in fact, that writing a poem is not at all dissimilar to experiencing a half-waking dream. In such dreams one is aware that one is dreaming, but continues to let the dream go its own way, sometimes even managing to steer it a little.** Although one knows one is asleep, one appears to have only a very slight control over what happens. If the dreamer is woken he can sometimes relax back into the dream again, but if he does this with a fixed intention of having another look at some definite object he has seen, he will not see it. Actual conscious concentration drives the dream away.*** He can however tell himself: “I’ll just drop off again and let myself dream anything I can”, and if he does this he may well catch a glimpse of the object he wishes to see[,]**** out of the corner of his eye.#

*{r~}

**{cf N[ew] S[cientist] re ‘Lucid Dreaming’}

***{NB}

****[Presumed comma]

#Ibid, 15

[continues]

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