muse

Reluctant Muse

Reluctant muse
Bends to his will.
She would resist
But is vulnerable still.
In her best interest
Led to believe.
Poor little girl,
So very naive.

Photo courtesy of Kaosgudinden on DeviantArt.com

Poe Poetry

SFoxWriting’s Alphabet Challenge ~ “P”

Poetry is my muse and Poe is my favorite poet. Edgar Allan Poe’s life story is not an uplifting one. He suffered great losses that took their toll upon him as a man. Those same losses are also likely why his works are such compelling reads.

10 Facts:
l. Born Edgar Poe, “Allan” was not added until Poe was orphaned at age 2 and sent to live with John & Frances Allan.
2. He was the first known writer in the U.S. to earn a living by writing alone. As most writers can relate, this left him financially insecure.
3. Poe was a raging alcoholic. So was his older brother.
4. He married his 13 year old first cousin when he was 26 years old.
5. Poe accused Henry Wadsworth Longfellow of plagiarism.
6. “The Raven” made Poe a household name almost instantly. He was paid $9 for its publication.
7. Poe was best known for his fictional works in the Gothic genre. He also wrote satire, hoaxes, detective stories, and reinvented science fiction.
8. Both Poe’s mother and Poe’s wife died of consumption (tuberculosis).
9. Edgar Allan Poe died at age 40 under mysterious circumstances. His death certificate was lost.
10. Poe’s obituary began “Edgar Allan Poe is dead. He died in Baltimore the day before yesterday. This announcement will startle many, but few will be grieved by it.”

Two Poems:

A Dream Within A Dream
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

The Lake
In spring of youth it was my lot
To haunt of the wide world a spot
The which I could not love the less-
So lovely was the loneliness
Of a wild lake, with black rock bound,
And the tall pines that towered around.

But when the Night had thrown her pall
Upon that spot, as upon all,
And the mystic wind went by
Murmuring in melody-
Then- ah then I would awake
To the terror of the lone lake.

Yet that terror was not fright,
But a tremulous delight-
A feeling not the jewelled mine
Could teach or bribe me to define-
Nor Love- although the Love were thine.

Death was in that poisonous wave,
And in its gulf a fitting grave
For him who thence could solace bring
To his lone imagining-
Whose solitary soul could make
An Eden of that dim lake.

Electric Six

Image from Electric Six’s March 1st show at The Stache (inside The Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI). This is me after the show with Electric Six front man, Dick Valentine. My husband got me tickets as a birthday month, day 1 gift. I told Dick that I am turning 40. He said I don’t look a day over 29. I really like that guy.

Day 5 of Steven Fox’s Alphabet Challenge and I am loving how this challenge is forcing me to branch out. No longer does this blog seem to be nothing more than a series of creative writing assignments. There is life here now, reality in small doses. It is time to show the world who I am and what makes me tick. Today, I give you the “E” in me. The music of Electric Six ~ they are the soundtrack of my soul, the rhythm my heartbeat, and the voice behind some of life’s greatest memories.

Electric Six is a band that originated from my home state of Michigan. The band was highly successful, particularly in the UK, in 2003-2004. According to Wikipedia, their style has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of garage, disco, punk rock, new wave and metal. To be a little more succinct and to put into my own words; it’s rock music you can dance to, infused with fun and absurdity. To best appreciate an Electric Six show, you must take it in along side a group of your most entertaining friends.

I was denied the light of Electric Six in my life until July of 2009. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when I was enlightened. It was a day of celebration, friends gathered together to feast and imbibe upon spirits. It was the day the music was resurrected. A great man they call Dan brought forth a gift. It was not the tangible sort you hold in your hands, but the kind that touches your soul. Joy erupted within my psyche as “Down at McDonnelzzz” off I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being the Master penetrated my ear drums. Before that glorious day came to a close I would also fall in love with “Dance Commander”, “Danger! High Voltage”, “Improper Dancing”, and “Gay Bar” all off Fire.

Today Electric Six serenades me as I write. They are there when I dance. They encourage me to sing. Their live shows are an anticipated event for me and my closest friends. I have seen them live no fewer than 7 times now, usually at The Intersection (or The Stache inside The Intersection) right here in Grand Rapids. Pre-show the band mingles with their fans. Once my husband bought drinks for himself and guitarist, Johnny Na$hinal while they took in an opening act together. Post-show band members walk among the crowd and happily shake hands, sign autographs and take pictures. It is an experience, one I never miss when they come to town.

Here are a few photos from the latest show I attended, as well as a link to my favorite music video, for your pleasure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a4gyJsY0mc ~ Electric Six chooses to neither confirm nor deny the presence of Jack White’s voice as backup on Danger! High Voltage. I think we all know…

And because this is still a creative writing blog, an epitaph poem inspired by Electric Six’s “Egyptian Cowboy” lyrics (did you catch how many “E”s I tied together there?):
Here lies an
Egyptian Cowboy.
That identity was
Merely a ploy.
He set out to kill
But was stabbed instead.
He had pretty hair
But now he is dead.

You can learn more about the band at their website http://electricsix.com/.