make a play with

[Phantomkin1]

Dear Teachers,


"to make a play with..." - is it a common expression in English? And what does it mean exactly?
I found this expression in the poem by Diane di Prima:
"<...> to make the play with / this immediate head, what it comes up with, <...>

[Rover_KE]

You ask about 'make a play with' and then quote 'make the play with'.

Neither phrase means much to me.

Please quote a bit more of the poem — at least a full sentence.

Rover

[Phantomkin1]

You ask about 'make a play with' and then quote 'make the play with'.

Neither phrase means much to me.

Please quote a bit more of the poem — at least a full sentence.

Rover

Dear Rover,

the whole poem of di Prima is:

Revolutionary Letter #1 - Diane di Prima

I have just realized that the stakes are myself
I have no other
ransom money, nothing to break or barter but my life
my spirit measured out, in bits, spread over
the roulette table, I recoup what I can
nothing else to shove under the nose of the maitre de jeu
nothing to thrust out the window, no white flag
this flesh all I have to offer, to make the play with
this immediate head, what it comes up with, my move
as we slither over this go board, stepping always
(we hope) between the lines


Is it a little bit clearer?

[Rover_KE]

Sorry. . .I don't understand it.

Rover

[5jj]

... this flesh all I have to offer, to make the play with
this immediate head, what it comes up with, my move...

The croupier at roulette in France calls out "Faites vos jeux" ('Make your games'/Make your play = Place your bets) before spinning the wheel. I think that the writer is suggesting is that all he has to offer in this game (of life?) is his life, his flesh and the ideas that come up in his head.