The New Muse Poem by Daniel Brick

"ARE YOU THE NEW MUSE? ... THE ONE
who will approach each poet as a whole being?
It is a fusion of Flesh and Soul within The Spirit.
I know this union is imperfect. I know my self is
incomplete. I know these things. Why were they not
hidden from me? Am I meant to enjoy this life,
or should I loathe it? That is the Issue of Self."

"ARE YOU THE NEW MUSE? ... THE ONE
who doesn't teach an 'English Class'
in high school. She doesn't inspire a novelist
writing his first, or a muralist painting
all the Mississippi garden sites. She will lean
over the painter, and let him know in a net of words,
'These are beautiful words in line six. What word

will make line eight similarly shine? ' Is it the dark
magnet that brings the right word into the right
niche? Can words see the path of closure, and deftly
drop each one into its proper place in the meaning of
everything? Or must they rely on the Big People
bossing directions to anyone in sound of my voice?
Will we regret mixing poetry with politics?

"ARE YOU THE NEW MUSE? ... THE ONE
who needs no sleep. He contains a sun
in the cavern of his heart. Its light
does not blast with dawn eagerness.
It does not scorch with noon apogee.
His gentleness is legendary across
galactic distances. His speech is soft.

"ARE YOU THE NEW MUSE? ... THE ONE
who knows the pain of a love that festers
in a hardened heart. Will you reach
into that wounded heart and ease her passion
for the wrong partner. Give her eyes that see
deeper into a male heart, that sees what truth,
if any, resides there, for her to embrace or let go.

"ARE YOU THE NEW MUSE? ... THE ONE
who chooses to live with us in this world
of fallen gardens, besieged kingdoms,
betrayals and confusions, sacrifice
and hope. We welcome you to join our hymns,
to make our voices blend into your heavenly
beauty and so accompanied we will rise to the Empyrean."