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Cornered By An Evil Muse

Writing in a room with an insolent ceiling, Haughty in its skill at keeping thoughts out of reach, Emotions darted above me, bat-like in their evasion, A rapture of denial, pushing me away. Ever I spun toward memory - always a quarter-turn ahead; The seasons hid their faces, the Heavens turned their back, Inspiration's cache stood just offshore, vanishing in fog; What room was this - I was lost, off-center. Every poem unwrote itself, the merest beginning hope having fallen to dust; my mind and body were false constructions. At the last, light and darkness gave up definition, The walls and floor coming to the point without me. March 25, 2017

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FJ Thomas

Date: 6/3/2018 10:50:00 AM

In a bit of a rut... so back to someone who obviously understands :) This is truly me right now. Hello again Doug :)

FJ Thomas

Date: 4/8/2018 1:31:00 PM

Wow Doug ...you've woven this so wonderfully!

Stanley Dorsey

Date: 12/14/2017 5:04:00 PM

Hey poem had great descriptions, some I must get defined. A writers block is disturbing

Deborah Burch

Date: 11/19/2017 11:44:00 AM

Doug after reading this I know it's true... I have fallen down the rabbit hole!! ;) You used that rascal muse well dear one!! Good to read you!! Big Hugggs!! Deb

Phatt Matt

Date: 9/1/2017 7:28:00 PM

Hi Doug, you did it again! you deserve A7 because you've hit that lousy muse right on the noggin-ha ha ha good on you mate. ~phatt

Doug Vinson
Date: 9/3/2017 8:56:00 AM

Thank you, Phatt. : ) Where do the words go when they won't come to us...?

Old Buck

Date: 6/12/2017 3:02:00 PM

Doug: All who read this will share your pain. Thank you for such an intense reminder of an on again off again day. Keep them coming. oldbuck

Doug Vinson
Date: 6/12/2017 7:42:00 PM

OB, that Muse cut me to the quick....

Honestly J.T.

Date: 5/30/2017 7:43:00 PM

Nice job; I can understand this feeling -JT

Doug Vinson
Date: 5/31/2017 12:41:00 AM

Ahoy, J.T. : ) Yeah, sometimes.....

Charmaine Chircop

Date: 5/11/2017 4:40:00 PM

Oh it seems as if you're describing what every poet experience from time to time-A writers block.I'vebeen there many times.Your muse might get evil at times..but Im sure mine is crazy..It gets me to write in strangest of places..and disappears when it should easily have been there.Awesome poem.

Doug Vinson
Date: 5/12/2017 11:01:00 AM

Thank you, Charmaine. : ) I guess that muses may not like being taken or granted, or perhaps even go out of their way to be contrary.

John Herlihy

Date: 4/24/2017 3:00:00 PM

When the words come, it is glorious. When they are reluctant to show up, we feel bereft. You describe this well in the poem. Seems like your muse has come back. John

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/25/2017 12:14:00 PM

Hey John. : ) That evil Muse has me imprisoned! : P

Eileen Manassian

Date: 4/23/2017 1:06:00 AM

Yes...inspiration's cache is often offshore for me too...vanishing in the fog. Great descriptions here of what happens when our muse just teases, but doesn't deliver...Hey...this makes for a good poem!

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/23/2017 6:18:00 PM

Such a bummer when things vanish, Eileen. A theme, a half a sentence....

Linga Siva

Date: 4/22/2017 1:18:00 PM

Wow. Powerful write mate. Siva

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/23/2017 6:14:00 PM

Hey Linga, good deal. Sometimes, the Muse wins...

Charles Coon

Date: 4/22/2017 11:58:00 AM

Experientially well expressed! Thanks, Doug...

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/23/2017 6:12:00 PM

Hi Charles. : ) Thanks.

Gerald Dillenbeck

Date: 4/17/2017 7:11:00 PM

Sounds claustrophobic. You know, you really should get out more. Always appreciate your vulnerabilities, and your humor. thx for sharing both. Gerald Oliver

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/18/2017 7:36:00 AM

Thank you, Gerald. Good to see you again.

John Michaels

Date: 4/15/2017 6:08:00 PM

I love how you've turned the writer's block cliché into an almost tangible struggle! Given an entirely new spin and, hopefully, banished His Evilness back to where he belongs! Well done!

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/15/2017 9:38:00 PM

Ahoy, John. : ) Thanks.

Agona Apell

Date: 4/15/2017 7:19:00 AM

An eloquent weave of thought! Great use of imagery.

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/15/2017 1:10:00 PM

Hey Agona. : ) Thank you.

Carole Duet

Date: 4/12/2017 12:29:00 PM

Hello again Doug! Well, I hope that "evil muse" will just live in the closet somewhere in your house. Lock him up...even though he managed somehow to inspire you to write this appealing poem.

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/12/2017 6:51:00 PM

Hi Carole. Sigh... I just don't know what to do about that doggone Muse....

Anne-Marie Coreggia

Date: 4/12/2017 8:03:00 AM

Doug, from beginning to end, your words were insolently brilliant:) Amitiés

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/12/2017 8:23:00 AM

Thanks, Anne-Marie. : ) Let's hope our Muses never really go bad.

Anil Deo

Date: 4/10/2017 8:49:00 PM

On second reading, Poet Doug Vinson, you got the better of the Evil Muse. It cannot deny such originality as in, "insolent ceiling," and "Every poem unwrote itself," and yet you have this gem. A 7, and YES. i remembered to select from the rating box above.

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/11/2017 7:12:00 PM

Hey Anil. : ) Thanks!

Teddy Kimathi

Date: 4/7/2017 8:27:00 AM

Congrats Doug, for your WIN with this wonderful piece!! ;-)

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/7/2017 11:06:00 AM

Teddy, thank you, my friend. : )

Suzanne Delaney

Date: 4/7/2017 5:09:00 AM

Hi Doug: This is my zone at the moment. I am hoping an organized house-at last- and all the spring blossoms will bring her out. She is elusive though- as you say, " ...always a quarter turn ahead. Enjoyed this notable piece and thanks for your visit to my page. Made my day. Hugs, SuZ

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/7/2017 11:05:00 AM

Cheers, Suzanne, thank you. : ) I hope she smiles on you, yet to me she seems unaccountable, even to the season and a clean house. She hits me up on the way to work, when I'm stuck in traffic, when my hands are dirty and greasy, torn-apart things in front of me...: P

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 4/6/2017 11:01:00 PM

Dream-like feel to this poem. Great!

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/7/2017 10:58:00 AM

Yo, Kim. Hope so - it *better* be dreamlike... : P

Phillip Garcia

Date: 4/6/2017 10:39:00 PM

Reading this after reading your dog poem was a head trip. Tons of mind blowing metaphors that insist on being explored multiple times. Very cool, Doug

Doug Vinson
Date: 4/7/2017 10:57:00 AM

Thanks, Phillip, I appreciate that. How personified can the Muse be? We may talk about "summoning" her (or him, if we so perceive), but can she directly, positively effect us, to the point of removing us?