I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

11 January 2015

Muse

He is d’Artagnan,
dance and flash —

the grin, the jaunty stance,
the curled plume of the hat.

His dark eyes regard me
in absolute a-Musement

but he’s not saying a word:
this warrior is on strike.

The blade, resting sheathed,
hat and cloak laid aside

proclaim he has
as much time as it takes.

Is it up to me
to coax the words?

Is he Muse or Anti-Muse? Ah …
I know him: Animus.

He winks;
that lazy air

belies his tightening grip
around my pen.

I reach and clasp his hand.
At last — yes — action!


Been tinkering with this for 11 years!  The black-out erasure method helped me pare it back to something which I could then build on anew — using bits of the original, bits of the erasure, plus some new things —and finally get to what I wanted to convey. 


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45 comments:

  1. Anonymous11 January 2015 at 17:01

    This is a very visual poem. You have captured the dash and sauciness of D'Artagnan
    and the inspiration that will guide your creative hand. I like this snapshot approach...
    Rallentanda

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  2. Delaina11 January 2015 at 22:23

    Brilliant! Sensuality and all of its complications are visual in this poem. I love it!

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade11 January 2015 at 23:06

      Delighted to have succeeded in making that visible too, without spelling it out. Thank you.

      Delete
  3. Brian Miller12 January 2015 at 00:46

    d'artagnan....quite the dashing muse you have there eh? ha.
    cool that you have worked on this one for so long and are once again making headway
    i dont really believe in a muse...

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  4. humbird12 January 2015 at 01:02

    somehow this line caught my eye: 'belies his tightening grip
    around my pen' ~ interesting!

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade12 January 2015 at 01:09

      I was still composing with pen and paper back when I first attempted this poem.

      Delete
  5. Grace12 January 2015 at 01:09

    Well at least he is muse to your words ~ I like the imagery of the warrior on strike ~ perhaps we just need to shake him out again & again ~

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  6. Susan12 January 2015 at 01:21

    I like the Jungian slant to this as if ready to merge anima and animus--and to see self as a muskateer! Wow. Mine is more a clown ... Love this.

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    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade12 January 2015 at 07:58

      Mine's doing a lot of work, poor fellow, being almost Shadow as well ... though the Shadow is of course subconscious.

      Delete
  7. Mary12 January 2015 at 01:38

    Ah, we each have to find a way to catch that muse and hold on to him! He can be very elusive!

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  8. Donna@LivingFromHappiness12 January 2015 at 04:02

    So the muse finally took hold. I still write with pen and paper so I loved that line, 'belies his tightening grip around my pen'.

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    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade12 January 2015 at 08:01

      It just wouldn't work the same to start talking about keyboards, lol.

      Delete
  9. brudberg12 January 2015 at 04:16

    Love the wordplay the a-muse and antimuse.. Such a bold one you have.. Or should I say dashing?

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  10. Sherry Blue Sky12 January 2015 at 04:29

    I can see him and love "the grin, the jaunty stance, the curled plume of the hat". I could work with a Muse like that! Enjoyed this very much.

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    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade12 January 2015 at 08:03

      Once upon a time the Muse was always assumed to be female. But now there are so many of us women poets, I think we need our own version!

      Delete
  11. Truedessa12 January 2015 at 06:32

    I think the muse teases as he wants you to find your own voice as he watches. Interesting theme.

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    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade12 January 2015 at 08:04

      Yes, I think that is certainly one thing that's going on. But better when we join and cooperate.

      Delete
  12. Unknown12 January 2015 at 07:15

    Doesn't every writer have some kind of muse, some kind of object that pushes us to do better.

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  13. Stacy M.S.12 January 2015 at 09:44

    i love how well this flows...almost sings through your head.

    lovely visuals!!

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  14. ZQ12 January 2015 at 10:05

    A hand well grasped :-)
    ZQ

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  15. Anonymous12 January 2015 at 12:35

    Ha! It is hard to identify the muse or anti-muse--I think you just have to forge ahead as you always do. Thanks. k.

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  16. Kerry O'Connor12 January 2015 at 15:46

    This is a rather unique personification of the illusive muse. He seems a lively if recalcitrant fellow.

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade12 January 2015 at 17:20

      Ha ha, thank you Kerry. Yes he is all those things.

      Delete
  17. Jae Rose12 January 2015 at 23:49

    It was a really clever way of writing wasn't it - I am glad it helped you catch your muse...

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    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade13 January 2015 at 00:15

      Yes; I'm excited about the possibilities for other poems.

      Delete
  18. Old Egg13 January 2015 at 09:30

    En garde! Can we now expect posts from you with rapier wit?

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  19. Torie14 January 2015 at 11:15

    It's nice when we can finally complete a writing we've been working on. I find it brings a nice sense of accomplishment! Well done, I say. Very nicely written :)

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    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade14 January 2015 at 13:47

      Yes, all that time I was reluctant to just ditch it. Glad you like the final outcome.

      Delete
  20. Rosemary Nissen-Wade14 January 2015 at 13:47

    Thank you; glad you enjoyed it. :)

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  21. Gen Giggles 14 January 2015 at 22:55

    Interesting choice for the name of the muse. Well written.

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    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade14 January 2015 at 23:36

      Thank you. It's not the name so much as the connotations.

      Delete
  22. totomai15 January 2015 at 09:55

    love and hate relationship with a muse could sometimes be frustrating. but glad you gotta hold of him. go, write, free flowing. happy new year

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  23. Steve King18 January 2015 at 00:12

    Very nicely done here. However you got to this point, it makes for a very polished work. And I love the puns.
    Steve K.

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade18 January 2015 at 06:33

      Thank you, Steve. After 11 years, I guess it should be polished — but not all end up that way. Nice that I was able to save this one. And I'm so glad you enjoyed the puns! (Grin.)

      Delete

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