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Friday, January 20, 2012

When I Met My Muse


Each Friday we provide the link to the blog that is hosting a celebration of poetry around the blogosphere. At that site you can find the links to the many other blogs that are posting poems (new and old), discussions of poems, and reviews of poetry books.

Enjoy the festivities!

The host this week is Elaine Magliaro. You can visit her here at Wild Rose Reader.



(The Head of a Woman, 1508, unfinished painting
by Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519, a true Renaissance
Man)

“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.” ~ Pablo Picasso
(1881-1973), Spanish artist

WHEN I MET MY MUSE

I glanced at her and took my glasses
off — they were still singing. They buzzed
like a locust on the coffee table and then
ceased. Her voice belled forth, and the
sunlight bent. I felt the ceiling arch, and
knew that nails up there took a new grip
on whatever they touched. “I am your own
way of looking at things,” she said. “When
you allow me to live with you, every
glance at the world around you will be
a sort of salvation.” And I took her hand.

~ William Stafford (1914-1993), American poet

10 comments:

GatheringBooks said...

Now I have fallen deeply in love with William Stafford - to have the power to make one's eyeglasses sing, refract the rays of the sun, and unhinge a formidable ceiling arch - wow, that IS love indeed. I wonder how their daily life appears like with such fiery intensity. :) Thanks for sharing this. Will send this poem to my husband for inspiration. :)

Linda B said...

I've loved the way Stafford shares his life, and this time, a love poem. "Every glance at the world around you will be a sort of salvation." How much love can be when it is embraced!

jama said...

Oh, I love Stafford -- and this is definitely one of my favorites. What a sublime poem!

Also like the Picasso quote :).

Author Amok said...

"I am your own way of looking at things," just gorgeous. I am blogging about Stafford today too. Hope you have a chance to stop by.

Andromeda Jazmon said...

My favorite lines:

"I felt the ceiling arch, and
knew that nails up there took a new grip
on whatever they touched."

Mary Lee said...

Although I've never had such an amazing meeting with my muse, I'm glad to know I have the "same" one that Stafford has!

Tara said...

Oh for a muse such as this! Thanks for sharing this one, Maria.

Ruth said...

What a wonderful way to look at the muse. "Your own way of looking at things." I guess it's all in having the courage to trust your own way.

Amy L V said...

Oh, thank you for this poem. It is new to me, and it made my evening. I will now be forever waiting for mine! a.

Tabatha said...

Another one for my poetry journal, Maria! Thanks for posting my link for me. I am awake before everyone else and prowling around PF. Having a great time!