Well, I'm mostly over whatever slammed me last weekend, so as promised I will post something. This is one of my grad school poems, so keep that in mind *g* (I was terribly earnest back then). So here it is:
Inspiration
Inspiration
I have been Mused and yet am nothing
Hoping for the chance to begin to become
To start daring searching questioning
Without knowing what to find
Or even what to seek
Believing only that the seeking and the finding
Are one.
I have been Mused fearing nothingness
Yet having feared I remain and so
Turn to those who think me nothing
Wish me to be nothing
Or feel nothing
And am amused.
I will be Muse and become Inspiration
Knowing that being Muse is nothing
Without Creation
And so breathing life into my hopes my dreams
I create
Asking neither to define or defend
Simply the opportunity
To Be.
14 comments:
I have been posting older poems for the entire Poetry Train until today. But I don't like to make apologies for older poems. If I see that I've grown since then, I feel encouraged by that.
I like the repetitive form of the narrator's relationship to the Muse. I especially like:
"Without knowing what to find
Or even what to seek
Believing only that the seeking and the finding
Are one."
My first thought was "are you high enough on yourself?" Then I thought back to my college days and realized that you were much more eloquent than I was at that age.
So, I'll simply say: Grandiose!
(And very well executed)
I love the last stanza and I'm right there with you when you write "To Be".
I think earnestness is underrated. I'm starting to get tired of today's ubiquitous irony. But I'm glad you said that, because I can hear this poem in my head with an earnest tone now.
I just got stuck on the first line. Love it. That's so how I felt last week, when I finally passed through the incredible stress I've been under to the place where my muse was waiting.
I'm with Dewey about the irony, and the lack of it in this poem really helping to strengthen it.
Thank you everyone for your kind words. There is a (very short) story behind this poem. I was doing lots of research and reading back then, and had come across a quote from Robert Graves that really ticked me off, which said, "Woman is Muse or she is nothing." And this poem was basically my reply.
i'm NOT losing my mind - this is the second blog that i know i post a comment to that it doesn't show up. The computer demons are eating my words.
I really like the second stanza ALOT - it reflects how often we stand outside ourselves and carry contradictory emotions. My personal has always been:
"So i contradict myself, i contain multitudes."
HA! i see the comment you evil computer demons! Slid that past you didn't I? Uh-oh - the screen just did a weird jumpy thing. I think i'm tempting fate here...
This is awesome!! Loved this part:
I will be Muse and become Inspiration
Knowing that being Muse is nothing
Without Creation
This is great, Ann!
I have never really grokked the whole idea of muses. I guess I am just bemused ;)
I think this is very good.
Why are you apologizing?!
This reminds me of how I felt in grad school, of course you are much more eloquent than I would ever have been. I like that this was a response to the quote! Very cool!
Thanks everyone, I'm glad you liked it.
Rhian- glad the computer demons are leaving you alone *g*. Loved the comment "I contradict myself"- you and Walt Whitman.
That's rather nice. I like the arythmic (sp?) flow.
Thanks.
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