Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » My Fickle Muse

My Fickle Muse

Muse sits on my shoulder in the most embarrassing places being frank and bolder sometimes she even disgraces, I find her prompting me openly when I am completely occupied, I must not ignore her coldly She can be disconcertingly snide. The toilet seems an unlikely place When business I’m attending to, I am seeking that private space Where I can quietly do my do, When she peppers me with ideas Words, themes, phrases, then Suggesting the bizarre and curious, Only to leave me blank when I no longer sit on the throne And struggling to find her voice, All I hear is her frustrating groan While I struggle over a word choice. Written July 21, 2022

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 7/22/2022 9:25:00 PM

"When she peppers me with ideas Words, themes, phrases, then Suggesting the bizarre and curious, Only to leave me blank when I no longer sit on the throne" - this is familiar to me in so many ways!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/23/2022 9:17:00 AM

I thought this little poem might be relatable to many of us here on the Soup, and it appears that it is.

Michael Tor

Date: 7/22/2022 4:44:00 AM

Tom had to join in on the fun lol. What ever it takes to bring forth Poetry, I'm all for it Milton. Lol

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/22/2022 8:40:00 AM

(chuckling) I'm just happy everyone is enjoying it, Michael.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 7/21/2022 11:46:00 PM

Old Milton was on the throne as you do/ Called out for his fickle muse, "where are you? "/ She said. "have no fear/ by you I'm quite near/ But gagging cos of the smell of poo poo". / Sorry Milton, couldn't resist. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/22/2022 8:40:00 AM

(chuckling) Well, your heart (?) is in the right place, Tom!

Jenna Logan
Date: 7/22/2022 1:32:00 AM

Never resist a good limerick, Tom. If ever there was a reason to write one, this was it.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 7/21/2022 8:23:00 PM

Exactly! Best thoughts come wrapped in toilet paper. Remember to mount the throne with pen in hand next time! (Flush twice. It's a long way to the kitchen! ~ Old college saying)

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/22/2022 8:41:00 AM

I've starting take pen and writing paper with me. Good advice, gw.

Terry Flood

Date: 7/21/2022 3:31:00 PM

I sympathise, Milt. I’m not sure that I’ve had ideas in the little room, but I’ve certainly honed a few. Jenna’s idea seems sound but I’d bet a pound to a penny or a dollar to a cent that I’d flush the notes and keep the… erm… er…. Nuff said. Now, the shower: that’s a different matter… there once was a very big snake…….

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/21/2022 6:20:00 PM

Terry, I firmly expect you to take this who thing and run with it! Thanks!

Jenna Logan

Date: 7/21/2022 3:15:00 PM

Do your do, Milt! ha ha. My muse likes to hang out in the kitchen when my hands are full of flour or something cooking desperately needs stirring. She will not be deterred. My advice would be to keep pen and paper beside your throne, not the wipe your butt kind. Such a fun write you've given your readers. And now we know you're a folder instead of a crumpler. That speaks to discovering that you like things neat and clean... pun intended.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/21/2022 6:20:00 PM

Oh my, Jenna. I had no idea that there was a thing about crumplers and folders. I always fold. (Ha!) I do like the idea of the pen and paper near the throne. Let's see. It's a very small room. I suppose I could put a tablet on the washstand. (chuckling)

Jeff Kyser

Date: 7/21/2022 1:09:00 PM

So you’re saying after being throne a bone, in the rush to flush you lose the muse?

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/21/2022 1:27:00 PM

Jeff, you'd be amazed at the number of good ideas that lie on the floor between my bathroom and my study! I have, on the other hand, composed many a verse while folding toilet paper.