Sunday 22 July 2012

Iron Bars Do Not A Prison Make.

Imprisonment is not a pleasant state to endure, and yet I have endured it a few times in my life. Endured it with stoicism too, and without feeling the hardship that other prisoners often seemed to feel. I suppose being institutionalised from an early age helped me to deal with being locked away. The fact that I probably deserved my punishment, and realised that I deserved it, was helpful to me too.

Not that I didn't kick against the rules at times. I always felt a bit better if I went down fighting. Though fighting is probably the wrong way to describe what happens when four or five burly screws, decide that you will obey the rules eventually.

To my way of thinking though, there is a far worse imprisonment than the locked cell door. It is the prison in my own head. That is the place that has caused me the most heartache in my life. It is in my head that the main battles have been fought. And there is nothing to kick against in there. Only my own contradictory thought processes. It can be an interminably long sentence to endure, but with luck, and a bit of self knowledge it can be got through.

The key that kept me unhappy for so long, was the one that got stuck in the lock early in my life. The key that jammed the door marked 'relationships'. I wanted to be loved, and to love in return, and I made many attempts at seeking that pleasant state. I did love. I used to fall in love easily. In fact I was likely to fall in love with any woman who showed even the slightest interest in me. Sadly though all my relationships failed. Some lasted longer than others. Mainly down to the understanding women involved. But I always knew that they were doomed to failure. Although it took me years and years to finally accept that it was my fault.

I do not trust. That is my problem. If you say you love me, the words are magic and please me greatly. But why would you love me? I would like to believe you. But I don't. I know that you will give up on me sooner rather than later. I keep telling you that. If I repeat it often enough, when the sad day arrives as I know it will. Then I can rightly tell you, as I have been telling you all along: "I told you so."

Today, as I grew ever older, there is still that hope that I will meet someone special. But realistically, it is not going to happen, and honestly I am quietly content with my lot. The prison gates are open now. My mind is free.

This self portrait was painted, soon after yet another relationship had failed. I was lonely and miserable and living on the top floor of a tenement block, in a rundown town. I had no job, no money, and I was cold and hungry. It was, to my way of thinking, far worse than any prison could be. Once again a situation of my own making. When I look at this self portrait I see my life story in it.
Self Portrait.

13 comments:

  1. ♥♥I love the self portrait...very haunting! I can certainly relate to everything written in the third paragraph(It is the prison in my own head...), so glad the gates are finally open and your mind is finally free!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Few things are more debilitating and detrimental than the prisons that we create for ourselves. It is not easy to be set free.
    As for relationships - - I suppose we have to love ourselves before anyone can love us. Unfortunately, I've discovered this through a lifetime of self-loathing......

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my. I see so many emotions in that portrait. There is hurt, hatred, determination, sorrow, longing, maybe even a little hope. How on earth did you manage to capture all that and more? I have always admired your talent but this is extraordinary. It is such a compelling picture. Thank you for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm happy to see those bars have finally been taken down. You've lived a life and a half but where you are now sounds like a good place to be and I'm happy you're happy with it. Your artwork is brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  5. WOW ! brilliant painting. I got little hairs on the back of my neck prickling when I looked at it. There is so much raw emotion there, love it.

    There are loads of paintings and painters that I enjoy and get pleasure from viewing but just a special few that really move me. I was in tears in the National Gallery standing close to a V van G and last year when I went to the Musee d'Orsay and saw 17 of them I went into meltdown.

    The whole post today made very compelling reading. The best bit was that you have found the key. Its all in the phrase "I am quietly content with my lot". Contentment is a wonderful feeling.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I can identify with your feelings that any relationship you're in will fail. I have felt the same all my life. As you know I think I've turned the corner but doubts do keep coming back when I least expect it. You are a very likeable guy and I have been priveledged to have you as a friend.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm sure that there are many who can relate to the prison inside their own head. I'm glad that you were able to break free and finally feel contentment in your life. The self portrait is wonderful. So much emotion showing in one painting

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think that most of us are in some kind of prison.
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey, I forgot to mention that the self-portrait is superb!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am the opposite, I need to be reined in as I have a " I'm such a wonderful, thoughtful, kind, loving person..... How could you not love me?" Now that kind of thinking has gotten me nowhere either. So the key to true happiness is not what others think of us but what we think of ourselves and being content with who we are.

    ReplyDelete
  11. By the way, the portrait is strangely beautiful as well as being emotive

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am sorry that you have had a bad time with relationships but glad to hear that you are fairly content with your lot at the moment. It seems a much better place than at the time of that haunting self portrait.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The self portrait is an excellent piece of art. Well, it's all been said, John, so I'll simply give you a hug. (((YOU))

    ReplyDelete