The muse of
Edgar Allen Poe
visited with me
late one night
And the walls
of my mind
bled red

The muse of
Emily Dickinson
visited with me late
one night
And I found out
Death
is a real chatty kind of guy

The muse of
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
visited my dreams
late one night
Teaching me the sweet
depth, breadth, and height
of a love so true

The muse of
Robert Frost
gave me nightmares
late one night
Making me choose a road to travel
and reminding me of the
"miles to go before I sleep"

Smirking
my muse laughed
"just stick with me
kid,
at least with me
blood won't coat the walls of your mind
nor will you have to listen
to Death's incessant chatter
you'll never drown
in that big river
of love
nor worry about the miles you have to travel
so open your heart
your soul
and
what you will find
is the most
beautiful gift ever bestowed
your voice
and finally your song
will be sung"