A Muse's Struggle Poem by Joyce Rugg

wake up. hair a tangled Medusa's nest
stumble out of bed, abandoning rest
run to the yellow boat on Styx, the river of gray
that carries heroes to the monsters they slay

a corridor of chimeras, a hallway of harpies
souls filled with darkness blacker than sharpies
tartaurus behind every closed door,
watch the clock, five minutes more

a Herculean effort, and im free of the pit
leaving behind all but the memory of it
yet on the horizon lie clouds of rain
i know that i'll be back again