~ The Poet's Place Cafe~

It is few and far between when my muse compels me to write something on its own. That is one of the reasons I enjoy coming here to WDC and especially to the Poet's Cafe. Here I find prompts to help jump-start my muse and I can act on it or not, no pressure. I've also been exposed to others here who also enjoy writing and from whom I learn. The vast majority of the poems that I attempt here at WDC are what I think of as honing my skills and the feedback is invaluable. I also grow as a poet and a human being by reading the work of others and there are tons of that here.

For me, writing from a prompt is building my knowledge base, practicing what I've learned and sharing my ideas. Sometimes it is a chore, but chores need to get done to clear the way for more creative activities. Sometimes it is a quest, doing some research, and learning something new about the universe. Sometimes it is just fun to play with words. But every now and then, something magical happens and my muse kicks into high gear and I write something that I'm really proud of and want to pass on.

I prefer the bridle to the harness, it gives my muse more freedom but still allows me to be the guide.

she clamps down
on her bit and takes me on
the ride of my life
                   ~~jvg

"DISCUSSION: Harnessing Your Muse"