L Milton Hankins | + Follow Poet |
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A Convenient Excuse

I have come to a bitter conclusion
I’m not writing what editors want,
My rejections are coming in profusion
It’s clear I am not a poetry savant.
I fear my muse is sabotaging me
With insignificant verse and rhyme,
She recently started charging a fee
For more than three lines at a time.
I think I’ll give her the old heave ho
To strike out versifying on my own,
But I hate to kick her out the door
She’s good with a rare homophone.
Maybe I shouldn’t blame my muse
For when I’m inclined to boggle a line,
She provides a convenient excuse
Then she’ll give me a word that’s fine. 

Written June 22, 2022

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2022

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Kim Rodrigues Date: 6/23/2022 8:42:00 AM The muse can have days where he/she climbs under covers, no peeking, sleeping, cannot be aroused. Sometimes it is days or a week. Yikes…don’t I know it! Login to Reply

Spirit Cook Date: 6/23/2022 7:29:00 AM Sometimes we need critics to spur us to be better. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/23/2022 7:53:00 AM I believe that's absolutely true, Spirit. And, they do!

Caren Krutsinger Date: 6/23/2022 2:17:00 AM I hope that you have named this capitalistic genius of a muse "She recently started charging a fee For more than three lines at a time." Ha! Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/23/2022 7:53:00 AM For goodness sakes, don't tell Trixie about this. I don't want to give her any ideas!!!

Shirley Hawkins Date: 6/22/2022 8:35:00 PM Thank you, MIlt; I enjoyed the read. My muse is not amusing me at this time, and I think I may have upset her as I got her gender wrong by referring to my muse as male!!! i Ignorance is bliss, lol. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/22/2022 8:55:00 PM O well, she'll get over it, I'm sure, Shirley. Thanks for the note.

Timothy Ray Date: 6/22/2022 5:14:00 PM know this feeling at times, line by line and echo of mine....i have solace tho when the flow becomes an overflow...which has made me appreciate the silence more...great poem on the subject Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/22/2022 6:12:00 PM Thank you so very much, Timothy, for your thoughts and your appreciation for my poem.

David Mchattie Date: 6/22/2022 2:33:00 PM Our muse gives us all a chance to peek behind the curtain. Embrace your muse... who knows where the road will lead. Have a great day my friend. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/22/2022 3:23:00 PM Thank you so much, David, for this encouraging comment on my poem. I appreciate it.