Game for those whose Muse has gone AWOL

Annie O · Feb 23, 2007

This thread has been inspired by Moth. We all go through periods when our muse has gone awol so I thought that it would be a good exercise if we post an interesting fragment or sentence to aid us in the writing process. Readers can then write a poem incorporating the fragment and add another fragment for inclusion. It might be nice to have several poems using the same theme before we move on to another idea. What do you think, guys?

I will add a fragment suggested by MistOfShadows for starters. Let's see what we can come up with.

A hot cup of java by a warm crackling fire place

moth · Feb 23, 2007

Great idea Annie! Since I'm still not getting poetry, my entries are going to be a little shallow and surface-y, but here's my first:

A hot cup of java by a warm crackling fireplace
Marshmallows on skewers
You and me and the kids...
You tend the fire --
Hey, don't move the logs with your bare hands!
What kind of example is that for the kids?
- sigh -
Well, you've always been a pyro.
You're lucky I love you anyway.

Godfather · Apr 8, 2007

you're lucky i love you anyway,
and you oughta hope i always do.
maybe i'll go to paris
meet some girls,
talk back and forth in rhyme.
wild, naked, smiling crazy.

so, when them biographers come a-knockin'
well, you'd better start a-talkin',
take notes when i give you a look,
get your name in the book.

Rivana · Apr 9, 2007

Bless you Annie, I'm starting to wonder if my Muse had gone on extended leave without as much as a phone call with directions for me.

Get your name in the book,
when curtains fall
the audience
is the silent damnation
of history made.
No turning back,
no second breaks that last
till you've found the line.
Get your name,
written in gold, with a gold star.
Get the recognition of the ages.
Whatever it takes,
make the moment count,
the one that you spend
on this Earth.

davids · Apr 9, 2007

On this Earth live the wanton the wicked,
parched, peeling decals applied to a rust sick bumper on a fifty-five Edsel
Their life screams as they
sit, squalid in putrifying disuse
while they pick pick pick
at noses that lead to black, empty, treasure caves of insouciant abuse,
dislocated egocentricity, all encompassing, useless, trivial pursuits.

Writer??? · Apr 23, 2007

Boy! Talk about a thread killer. But here's my feeble attempt.

Dislocated egocentricity,
All encompassing, trivial-
Pursuits.
Confiscate prohibitarily,
More illustrious, loftier-
Statutes.
Obfuscated acrimoniously,
By hauntingly imagined
Lawsuits.

ddgryphon · Apr 23, 2007

Lawsuits are fine wear
in lands that keep holding court
they consume themselves

Writer??? · Apr 23, 2007

They consume themselves
Who never question
Supply, borne of our
Celestial possession,
And with such greed
Beyond confession
Live lives unto themselves.

EDIT: As I read and re-read, I wasn't sure I had not heard the ending before, so I changed it to be safe.

Beyondian · Apr 29, 2007

Live lives unto themselves
Who cares about the
periphery of your vision?
All that matters is
the world inside your head
all else is
white noise.

And there are some many
tools to take it
away
Blocking up our ears
Walling up our eyes
Until each man is an island
floating serene in a sea of humanity
Encompased around with people
And yet all alone

dancingchild · May 31, 2007

And yet all alone
under some cherry tree
no need to feel lonely-
the company of a bee
(head buried in blossoms,
arranged in three)
is enough to help see
there! over the clouds-
a mind, floating free

davids · Jun 11, 2007

A mind, floatiing free
lke a bobber in a current,
direction?
Go with the flow!

LaceWing · Jun 11, 2007

(deleted)

davids · Jun 11, 2007

Habit of fish
to lay on a dish?
Sizzling, boiled, cajoled in a salad
oh my dear, such life of the fish

BlueExcelsior · Jun 12, 2007

It's like the life of a fish
Can't stop swimming or you'll die
But, you do get your own bowl
So it must be worth a try

Writer??? · Jun 14, 2007

So it must be worth a try,
To get back on the road again.
To climb up in the saddle and
Attempt the ride into the sunset.

To climb the mountain
And plant the conquering
Flag
Of self-important achievement
Screaming at the top of the world
LOOK AT ME!

Look
At the insignificant nothing
I have done,
As all about me die.

As the world crumbles in chaos.
Read the words and see
How truly great I am
Really is.

threedogpeople · Jun 19, 2007

really is
reality isn't
blank spaces
in memory
drawn curtains
obscuring
life once lived

Meerkat · Jul 3, 2007

life once lived
is not used up
as all around are witness

life once lost
was traded in
some higher game or purpose

life once linked
is life sustained
its fertile chain unbroken

life breathed full
life shared loud
life of dare
is life not lost

crashbam · Jul 25, 2007

Is the life not lost
Really a life fully lived?
I've lost mine to love and to loss
To obsession and concession
And to heights and depths unfathomable.

Go ahead, put yours on display in a museum
Keep it in your locket
Leash it like your dog.

I'm gonna wave mine as a battle flag
and make it sing like an anthem.

Rivana · Jul 26, 2007

And make it sing like an anthem,
make it soar like a bird
let the memories crash,
burn and turn to cinder.
There is nothing to hinder
your future or your fight.
This is right, make the stand
and live forever.

Woof · Jul 26, 2007

To live forever-
What a dreadful thought,
To be a sleepless vampire?
I'd rather die and rot
And let me weary bones repose
And rest for time eternal
Than toil and strain and struggle
In the hell of life immortal.

Game for those whose Muse has gone AWOL

Annie O

...fueled on Cadburys

moth

my own two hands

Godfather

back door man

Rivana

Walks in the shades.

davids

Writer???

Because EYE said so!

ddgryphon

King of Sloth Town

Writer???

Because EYE said so!

Beyondian

musker vyusher

dancingchild

davids

LaceWing

davids

BlueExcelsior

Writer???

Because EYE said so!

threedogpeople

This is my BEST side!

Meerkat

Claims the loan was a gift

crashbam

Rivana

Walks in the shades.

Woof

Outward Hound