Thursday, November 17, 2005

My Muse Is a Son of a Bitch

My muse is a man. I appreciate those Neo-Classical visions of ethereal women with fabulous hair and gossamer robes, but they don’t speak to me. Not like he speaks to me.

He says anything he damn well pleases, but always pleasantly, always politely--unless of course he feels like channeling Batman on a given day, because then he speaks a bit more pointedly.

My muse, that son of a bitch, will not desert me. I have tried to get rid of him. Avoid him. Ignore him. I have tried to jot down the ramblings of other voices, hoping it would make him jealous. No luck.

Because nowhere in the “muse” job description does “jealousy” ever appear.

And worse, “modesty” is apparently on every line.

It must be pretty sweet, being a muse. Knowing you can make words dance.
Living as if it were simply part of the job.


That painting is: Jeune Homme Nu Assis (Young Nude Male) ~ 1855
By Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin

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posted by Jill at 11/17/2005 08:05:00 PM

15 Comments:

  • You must write male characters very well then. Is it that your voice is more masculine when you write? Or that the masculine is more to your internal ear's liking? If you made a muse jealous wouldn't that make them try all the harder? The way you write I would not mind being your muse.

    By Blogger Daniel, At 11/17/2005 10:30:00 PM  

  • Dudes don't get jealous.

    You're pretty big on the Batman references. Is Mr. Wayne your muse?

    By Blogger Claven, At 11/18/2005 03:56:00 AM  

  • okay... I wrote a short story that needs grading (please... not on typos and spelling... I sooo suwk) it's about a 8 minute read so when u get the chance this weekend... Id enjoy your teacherly opine

    A Knott in the String of Time

    oh... and like Im more into waer sprites... they're hawt

    By Blogger Romeo Jensen, At 11/18/2005 06:44:00 AM  

  • that was supposed to be water... see I told ya I suwk at spelling and typos

    By Blogger Romeo Jensen, At 11/18/2005 06:45:00 AM  

  • great words, jill. "making words dance." love it.

    clever, too. :)ah, the beauty of a disguise.

    By Blogger Amanda, At 11/18/2005 10:15:00 AM  

  • Glad I can be there for your inspiration, Jill.

    By Blogger Dirk the Feeble, At 11/18/2005 12:04:00 PM  

  • There's nothing wrong with a healthy Batman obesssion. Then again, I may be a little biased.

    By Blogger blog Portland, At 11/18/2005 12:43:00 PM  

  • At least the muse is nice and is not loud, brash and demanding like a stage mother. And a he? That's nice.

    By Blogger Momentary Academic, At 11/18/2005 01:31:00 PM  

  • Y'know, I don't have a muse at this time (other than Mommy and Daddy) but I think I may have found one. . .

    By Blogger lil'bitty, At 11/18/2005 01:48:00 PM  

  • Daniel: Thanks. No, my muse never seems to try any harder.

    Claven: Batman is relevant in so many situations...

    Romey: I like water sprites myself. I was going to post a painting of one of them, but I figured someone would then point out it was a water sprite and not a muse, and I was too lazy to type an accompanying explanation of my fascination with water sprites. A post for another day, I suppose.

    Amanda: Thanks for your lovely compliment, but I have no idea what the second half means.

    Armaedes: Yes, let the world know. My subconscious is all Armaedes, all the time.

    Portland: You tell 'em!

    M.A: Stage mothers suck. Male muses...are lovely.

    Lil Bitty: Awwww...you're too cute.

    By Blogger Jill, At 11/18/2005 01:59:00 PM  

  • making words dance

    By Blogger Jail Bird, At 11/18/2005 02:03:00 PM  

  • Ugh, I know. I have a love/hate relationship with my muse. I wish I could be MY OWN muse...now there's a thought!

    By Blogger Marissa, At 11/18/2005 06:07:00 PM  

  • Me, too, Marissa. Me, too.

    By Blogger Jill, At 11/24/2005 11:11:00 AM  

  • now why would you want rid of such a well mannered muse, unless it's true, that women really do prefer bastardly men, they're more a muse ing?

    By Blogger a fish on a bycicle, At 11/24/2005 05:22:00 PM  

  • Did you write that just for the pun, or do you want me to answer? Oh, I'll just answer anyway. It's not a matter of "getting rid of" my muse so much as it is a matter of "being exasperated by his complete well-mannered-ness and my resulting inability to stop listening."

    By Blogger Jill, At 11/25/2005 04:52:00 PM  

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