Oh, My Muse, Staring at me through distant stars Through laughter and tears Through the hallways of my mind. Oh, how you pierce me A cactus in my desert, How you sting me A jellyfish in my unstill waters. How you tickle me As my pen tickles the sky, Endless inspirations Stanzas forever flowing free. How you grab me From away and afar Confuse me With the thunderstorms in your eyes. If only it tickled forever Didn’t hurt as you bring me to my knees, If only I could fly to you like a bird Land safely in your arms. But no, it is not to be so! You are words on my page, Sweet fire, Caressing the armpits of my unwritten phrases, The constant party going on inside me. I must go to the party Even when I am frozen, Afraid, Exhausted from endless pokes of inspiration Tickles that I wish would never stop. I must fall free my sweet Muse, Into the abyss of whispering pages Where my darkness meets the light Where you wait for me always. Copyright 2018 Stacey Handler