Ben's Songs

Haskell is one of my imaginary friends, a small silicon dragon who accompanies me on inner journeys. I've said a bit more about him in the intro to another song, but I left off telling the story of how we met, because I wasn't ready. Then this poem came pouring out.

Haskell is not just an imaginary friend, he represents a part of me, specifically my manic cleverness. We met near the beginning of the Year of Madness, and he wasn't small then, or tame. When I realized how dangerous he might be, it was almost too late. Making him small and tame took a lot of hard work.

The alarming thing about the story is this: the first half of this poem narrates, in detail, the content my own subconscious contributed to a (dangerously poorly) guided meditation journey that took place before the Year of Madness — in fact, that may have triggered the Year of Madness — certainly long before I knew I was bipolar. Looking back, it has an uncomfortable whiff of prophecy about it.

by Benjamin Newman
 

by Benjamin Newman

after "The Akond of Swat" by Edward Lear

 

Mr. Underhill (not his real name)

Is not who you've been told.

He isn't so naive, or tame,

As to play the pawn in your little game;

To mess with him you must be rather bold!