Puppetmaster, 1985, Michael Parkes
When feeling bound,
Wishing to be free,
Consider first
The consequences.
Unbounded is not always free.
Bindings are not always tethers.
Bound together;
The ties that bind.
Bound to spirit
That frees the mind.
When bound by self-criticism,
Leap into the boundless realm of possibility.
When bound by the judgements of others,
Slip the bonds of critical thoughts.
When bound by purpose,
Set loose your courage to act.
When bound by a dream,
Let go the reality that dreams cannot create.
When bound by love,
Free yourself to love unconditionally.
When bound to self,
Revel in the connection to all things.
Michael Parkes
The puppetmaster (a portly dwarf portraying the ego in its smallness and elaborate dress) uses a swan puppet to mesmerize the human spirit, represented by the woman. The tiger, or rather our animal instincts, is also held in check by the puppetmaster. At this moment, the time is not ripe for the spirit to walk away from the illusion that the puppetmaster has created.