D. Wallace Peach over at Myths of the Mirror has challenged us to imagine a conversation with our muse.
I don’t know what my muse looks like. He or she is shy, spends a great deal of time in absentia, on holiday perhaps (think Robin Williams -bless him – as the genie, finally freed from thousands of years stuck in a bottle).
In order to take part in this challenge, I had to tempt him or her to make an appearance.
I write both poems and fiction and I often use images of ghosts and rivers/seas/water so perhaps my muse is a water sprite.
A water sprite with a short attention span, I think not always helpful yet always in a hurry. And probably wearing odd socks.
***
Muse: Hey!
Frances: There you are at last.
Muse: I’m a bit pushed for time. Got anything to show me?
Frances: This is what I’ve done so far. Distractedly presents a few disordered pages of typewritten notes with crossings out at which muse cursorily glances.
A horrible silence ensues.
Muse: What’s that supposed to mean?
Frances: What?
Muse: That! (Points with sprite-ly fingers). That bit there – about the quarry.
Frances: Well, what are we trying to say here? I consider that the appropriate metaphor in this situation would be that which, notwithstanding the potentiality for oxymoron, properly indicates a discretely blended atmosphere of luminosity and critical acuity of the piece I’m … why what’s wrong with it?
Muse: It doesn’t even make sense. I mean there isn’t a quarry in Walthamstow – trust me.
Frances: Yes. But this is fiction.
Muse: And don’t even get me started on the first line – about the clocks. I mean ridiculous or what?
Frances: I thought it was rather good. Original you know.
Muse: Whoever heard of a clock striking thirteen.
16 responses to “(Short) Conversation with a Muse”
I could have sworn I’d left a comment here, Frances. Thanks so much for coaxing your must to play. Your post is now reblogged. 🙂
Oh gosh. And now you must ignore the typo above. “Coaxing your MUSE.” Have a great day and weekend ahead.
Thank you so much.
You have a shy muse, but she’s still as bossy as mine and some of the others!
True that. Thanks for reading and commenting.
These muse posts are hilarious. They are do much fun to read.
Fun to write too. Haha. We need a laugh at the moment .
Fun! 🙂
Thank you so much.
That’s a very critical muse. 😀 — Suzanne
Yes perhaps I’m overly self-critical so I attracted a critical muse 🙂
I think your muse is related to the Editor Who Lives Inside My Head. Just lock her in the closet until you’re ready for her to come out.
I agree with you. Haha. I think the critical voice is more me getting in the way of the muse maybe.
Yes, that critical voice can be very intrusive.
I can see that: a Sailor Moon muse!
Hahaha, I love that your muse looks like Sailor Moon 🙂