I'm in the shower, thinking about how I'm almost out of shampoo, when the poem I've been thinking about will wander into my brain. The hot water must do something to my synapses -- before I can wash the suds out of my hair, I've got lines and ideas and I must go write.
Yes, I have horrified my children by dashing for the laptop sporting nothing more than a towel and an insane look in my eye.
Today's Maryland poet is Bryce Ellicott. The hot water does something to Bryce's synapses, too. (I'm guessing this poet is a fellow Pisces.)
Shower Sprite
by Bryce Ellicott
Why is it
I must find you
my muse, so often
in the shower?
I step in and
the water fills
my brain with words,
the calling of the thrumming
thermal rush, my hair
absorbing sentences from the flood.
I race through cleaning motions,
dash to my desk
and stand dripping, pen in hand
water running on
the page to find the
words evaporated
from my
drying
skin.
Posted with permission of the author.
High School Writing Prompt:
Write a poem addressing your Muse. Go ahead and ask her about the strange places where she turns up.
Since Bryce brought up the Muses -- three of the nine classical Muses are devoted to poetry: Calliope (epic poetry), Erato (love poetry), and Euterpe (lyric poetry).
I'll be finding inspiration today at Baltimore's CityLit Festival.
The Poe Room -- watched over by a remarkable portrait of Edgar Allan himself -- is where to go for poetry. There are readings and poetry panels throughout the day. I'll be on with a group at 10:45 AM. Hope to see you there!
7 comments:
Fun poem! I especially like the ending image. My Muse will pop up as I'm trying to go to sleep. I will try to memorize whatever it is so I can remember it when I wake up.
Agreed especially about the shower and the Muse "when I wake up" + Great the Baltimore City Lit Festival is going to be a whole lot of fun today, Congratulations + Cheers!
Agreed especially about the shower and the Muse "when I wake up". Great Baltimore CityLit Festival today!
Great poem. It really captures the feeling that most of us, no doubt, have. Funny how lines come to us at odd times-- I think it's because we are relaxed and the mind is cleared at those moments. Years ago, I'd been struggling to find the right opening line for a poem about my Quaker g-g-g-g-grandfather cutting cypress boards for sale to pay his deceased brother's fines for failing to muster for the militia. The line, "these boards were cut for thee," popped into tmy head as I was driving along Route 33 in eastern Virginia. I was so intent on working out other lines, I failed to notice my speed and got pulled over by the local police. I was tempted to say "Sorry, I didn't realize I was speeding, but I've got a great line for a poem!"
I so relate to your post and this poem -- I'm not a Pisces, but know all about shower compositions. Wonder if I'd be more prolific if I lived near a waterfall? Enjoy the lit fest!
I like these shower sprites!
And your day in the Poe room sounds divine.
We had a great panel discussion and a fabulous day of literary schmoozing, making connections, seeing old friend. Gotta love the Baltimore literary scene!
Thanks for your comments, all. Bryce's poem seems to have universal appeal.
Mike -- I enjoyed hearing the story behind that poem.
When I have an idea for a line in the shower (or behind the wheel), I know my mind has been working on it quietly, beneath thought, for a while.
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