Poet? Losing your muse? What I did (Mine Olde Storyteller’s Lair)
63Greetings! My dear time traveler! In this occasion you did not catch me off guard. I have been waiting for you because today I want to do something a little different. You know I have so many scrolls that it would take much more than your very life time to read and appreciate.
Sometimes, I try to choose among so many of them, an interesting one, not an easy task, let me tell you that. Since I have records of all Earth History, it isn`t easy to choose. Today, I received a request from a dear friend. He insisted so much that it would be wonderful to share it with you that I decided to accept it.
So, come in, grab your stool and give me a minute while I get your cup of green tea, dear time traveler….There you go…Careful! It`s recently brewed, do not burn yourself with it! I shall share with you now some interesting facts about poetry and prose.
In the very beginning, I use to call that “the painter of words” as it was truly the origin of poetry. Man would use pictures and symbols plain or nicely colored, to describe a story. So prose was first than rhyme, because prose was a form of storytelling.
Many say that it originated in Greece, others in Persia, others in China and India. Truth be told, the very origin of poetry was when man depicted his stories and adventures painted in caves and rocks. The refining of the Art certainly came around many years later.
“Epic of Gilgamesh”, from the 3rd millennium BC in Sumer (in Mesopotamia, now Iraq), is considered to be the oldest surviving epic poem. It was written in cuneiform alphabet. Now, I don`t mean to get any deeper into the subject at this moment. This is just for illustrative purposes.
As poetry and prose evolved and rhyme was used and rules were created, it became a true Art. However, the most important asset of a poet is his/her inspiration, better known as muse. Without it no Art is possible and gibberish replaces the attempt to poetry.
Have you ever wonder what would happen to a poet if his/her muse decided to abandon him? Where would the inspiration come from? How could you deal with such a painful desertion? Let me hold you no further and read about this friend of mine who went through that experience.
Listen carefully and enjoy:
 | Recently appointed as the new U. S. Poet Laureate, Ted Kooser has been writing and publishing poetry for more than forty years. In the pages of The Poetry Home Repair Manual, Kooser brings those decades of experience to bear. Here are tools and insights, the instructions (and warnings against instructions) that poets—aspiring or practicing—can use to hone their craft, perhaps into art. Using examples from his own rich literary oeuvre and from the work of a number of successful contemporary poets, the author schools us in the critical relationship between poet and reader, which is fundamental to what Kooser believes is poetry’s ultimate purpose: to reach other people and touch their hearts. Amazon Price: $7.00 List Price: $13.95 |
 | "*Nuts-and-bolts instruction helps budding poets become comfortable using poetry terms, forms and different styles *Includes a reading list, basic submission information and study plans
Designed to encourage budding poets to explore language, subject matter, free and measured verse, imagery, metaphor, and more—Creating Poetry is the must-have resource for anyone who wants to write or teach poetry. Readers will find in-depth instruction, definitions of poetry terms and examples, challenging exercises and more." Amazon Price: $4.27 List Price: $15.99 |
 | A distinctive collection of more than 90 effective poetry-writing exercises combined with corresponding essays to inspire writers of all levels. Amazon Price: $7.02 List Price: $16.99 |
 | Two beloved and esteemed poets have collaborated on this intimate and useful anthology illuminating the history, practice, and wonder of our most elusive art. Intended for all those who love poetry, including teachers, readers, writers, and students, The Making of a Poem will be especially valued by those who feel that an understanding of form—sonnet, ballad, villanelle, sestina, etc.—would enhance their appreciation of poetry, but are daunted by the terms, the names, and the histories of various poetic forms. This anthology draws the reader in, by example and explanation, to the excitement and entertainment of these forms. It explains their origins, traces their development, and shows examples from the past and present. Amazon Price: $9.97 List Price: $18.95 |
“Oh! Sacred muse of mine
You felt my fingers wilt as my inseparable quill, my right hand`s sixth; shivered, fell and cried…
Was it your betrayal when you left our side, was it pride inciting you to hide?
Verses trodden my mind`s secret shelves facing my own worship for thee; crucifying its inspiration, mutilating my dreams of beauty and the bodies of my unborn passionate tales.
I crawled into every fissure, picking up shards of pain, love and moonlit gardens. I peered into my dreams` hues and my heartbeat wept and moved to an unknown rhythm.
Shadows and dust, darkness and umbrage, my poet-self color blinded. Your whispers could still be heard in a mocking echo shattering my soul`s peaceful retreat.
The realm quivered, a brother was ceasing to exist slaughtered by the agony of a fleeing muse, wooing a stranger, choking my dearest metaphors insensibly.
Wraiths of murdered authors before time was ripe in the light of a lyrical world, stroked with wispy limbs my dying will, summoning me to carve my semblance on their epitaphs
Who would be my heir, not having a spawn to treasure my lines and immortalize them? Oh! Sacred muse of mine, but I would haunt thee,
I shall strip you bare of your vanity and malice
You shall perish by my undead pen as its ghostly stanzas will bespeak of your disloyal evil doings. Inscrutability shall resurrect my dignity.
In the parchments of ancient memories of the future, I will be regarded as a museless poet,
Alas! I shall not be of this world, but my poetry shall, ever immortal, eternal. In the end your sedition inspired me, even disgorging your poison and cracking my bones, I shall always be a poet, I was born as one…”
Is it hard for you to get your muse going?
See results without votingWell? What did you feel? I perceived that his need to write poetry was so strong that even in the end he turned his loss in a positive thing! Now, that is the difference between poetry/prose from the heart and commercial gibberish. I felt his feelings so deep! Didn`t you, dear friend?
What? Sure, you can have another cup of tea, but I must warn you: If you stick around you’ll end up helping me arrange some of my scrolls. You don’t mind? There you go! But we have to bid farewell to the other readers. It is just polite, don’t you think?
My dear friends, as you were listening I have to get busy now. It was an immense pleasure to have you here as usual! Thank you very much! See you on the next moon, then? Well, so shall be!
Your friend,
Universus, The Storyteller
Copyright ©Mystique®2010
CommentsLoading...
Thank You, my darling Sage!
I guess we are mutual admirers then. I love your poetry as much. It does speak to me as well...
Warmest regards and infinite, eternal blessings,
Al
Wow that was awesome! I am not sure about my muse but I have a writer friend who says I am their muse which I thought was such an honor that my writing inspired them.
I really enjoyed reading this along with my cup of tea. Love the photo too.
What can I say, Al? You always became one of my favorite Hubber. ^_^
Well done.
Thank you, my dearest Freya! You are one of my favorite angels....
barak Allah Feek!!!
Sage Williams Level 2 Commenter 2 years ago
You are an amazing painter of words. Your poetry is a beautiful art. I could have picked any one of your lines as they are all magnificent words of art.
I chose this one as it spoke to me,
"Verses trodden my mind`s secret shelves facing my own worship for thee; crucifying its inspiration, mutilating my dreams of beauty and the bodies of my unborn passionate tales." Oh this is beautiful, mystique. I am bookmarking so that I can come back and relish in your words.
Nice Job,
Sage