The Journey of Muse and Man

The Journey of Muse and Man

The muse is a toddler
who cannot learn and hope
with an empty belly
or a slap across the face.
The child cowers down inside himself,
concealing what is left
of the innocence he was born with
before he entered this hell.

The muse is a child
who hesitates before he speaks,
listening for footsteps in the hall.
The squeak of the appliances
shuts down the flow of thought.
As fear again grips tightly,
his soul is locked in its cage
turning creative energy to rage.

The muse becomes the little boy
hiding inside the wayward teen
who yearns to belong
while sounds of footsteps
choke off his hopeful song.
In places dark and lonely,
he mourns again, this abandonment, 
and wonders what went wrong.

The teen becomes a man
who searches for his muse
in the love and affection
of a skittish woman.
Each move he makes her way
moves her further away
till he finds no other answer
but to stop and wait.

Sitting still, without a word,
he is alone and losing hope
that this woman will reciprocate
the love he’s learned to show.
Just as his eyes get heavy,
for sleep has long been lacking,
he hears her footsteps in the room
but this time, his fear subsides.

The wounded child
within him weeps
for a childhood he has missed.
He whispers to his muse,
"I am only me. All I can offer you is this."
Just then, she wraps her arms around him
in a warm embrace, while upon his head
she plants a gentle kiss.

Sometimes, muses can be like this.


SWPoet