At once, by the heat of that wine?
Did the stars and the tide and your own heart
Dance with the heavenly Nine?
For they dance at that Inn of Apollo.
From “The Inn of Apollo” by Alfred Noyes, c. 1920
I am not writing. I ought to be, but I cannot. Frustratingly, writer’s block isn’t the (obvious) culprit. If it had been the case, I’d be equipped with solutions to surmount that particular roadblock. Instead, I am unable to even open Word and begin typing.
True, my story is competing with work today, as it will most days. However, even during free moments, I don’t feel remotely inclined to write.
I am writing a blog entry instead.
Since mid-February, I’ve planned, outlined, brainstormed, and researched for this story. Also, for the first time, I’ve committed to writing a story with my children in mind (however, it’s not particularly a children’s story). They know this. They will hold me to my promise.
Am I too ready? Is that even possible? Or am I nervous while facing the inevitability of finally sharing one of my stories? Usually, I’m secretive and allow only my eyes to read what I write. In that case, have perfectionism and stage-fright collided into a novel-freezing storm? Perhaps.
Whatever the reason, I am frozen and must thaw. Today. Soon.
Which draws my attention to the ancient Muses. I’d already planned to honor the fun old tradition of summoning the Muse(s) prior to writing. To prepare, I even printed and framed the three muses who I felt were most relevant to my story: Urania, Calliope, and Clio. Allow me to clarify that I do not believe in the muses; I’m a historian who is enchanted by the idea, and the practice appeals to me on that level.
Intriguingly, I’ve not yet acknowledged the Muses and discover myself unable to move forward with my story. Bearing that in mind, I’ll share an old muse-summoning verse written by Esther Willard Bates in 1912. Hopefully this pilfered invocation will suffice and appease the Muses so that I may commence writing!
Daughters of Mnemosyne,
Goddesses of Poesy,
We, thy servant, summon thee!
Jupiter and Memory
Bore them daughters, three times three,
We, the dryads, summon thee!
History and Tragedy,
Choral Dance and Comedy,
Muses Nine, we summon thee!
-“Heart of the World; A Masque of Myths”
from Pageants and Pageantry by Esther Willard Bates, 1912