I haven’t written for a while;
my mind seems dulled:
perhaps the dark days and nights of Winter
have suppressed my inspiration,
thrown my Muses back into the shadows
where they huddle and wait
for the light to return.

I haven’t written for a while;
those thoughts I have remain unformed,
a phrase here, a para-rhyme there
but, like my Muses,
prefer the shadows
cast by these short Winter days
and long, dark nights.

I haven’t written for a while
until today when I drew back the shades
and saw the Spring sun rising high in the sky
casting light and warmth;
my Muses joyfully returned from their dark place
and those disconnected thoughts joined with them
to write the words now forming on this page ...