Invitation to inspiration

Posted on by In mind and out

I invited inspiration
to come sit with me in my living room
but
instead she climbed into my mind and poured me a gaze so laced in longing
I could drown in that fabric of her eyes
and yet
I wondered how she might dress
without her melancholic yearnings and adorations of the moon
and sea,
and if she would let me
cleanse the blackened traces of her lashes from her face
or lick the salted scratches from old wounds
I wanted to know what she looks like outside of shadows
in the vibrant inkiness of noon
perhaps a spontaneous tattoo from a moment of love
I did not know her in this way –
but I wanted to
so I looked with this inspiration in my window pane
and watched the reflection of my breath
in the summer rain

Artwork: Gabriel Moreno

99 thoughts on “Invitation to inspiration”

  2. Rachel, your talent does not cease to amaze me. This is another fabulous piece. The imagery is breathtaking. You are the personification of beauty and inspiration.

    and if she would let me
    cleanse the blackened traces of her lashes from her face
    or lick the salted scratches from old wounds

    Superb. I do not know what else to say, sweetheart.
    xoxoxoxo

    Liked by 5 people

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    1. You say it all, always Gabriela. And I appreciate it all, always. I know this is another of my โ€˜personificationโ€™ pieces, I canโ€™t seem to help it, I get so drawn to writing like this. Thank you, I canโ€™t say that enough xoxoxo

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. My pleasure, sweetheart.
        “I know this is another of my โ€˜personificationโ€™ pieces” Oh, personification. I deeply admire pieces like this one. Add to them your incredible talent and my dear Rachel you have your readers at your feet; including me.
        xoxoxo

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Too kind, Iโ€™d rather you all eating from my hand than falling at my feet though ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚. Thank you, again dear G. I grant you a genie and three wishes of your choosing (if only I could).
        ๐Ÿงžโ€โ™€๏ธโค๏ธ๐ŸŒบ๐Ÿ’

        Liked by 1 person

      1. What is joy? Isn’t it beauty that the heart sees and feels? Then your poems bring much joy to those who read. But I get what you mean. We are inspired to write from the heart. That’s enough. ๐Ÿค—

        Liked by 3 people

  6. This is so beautiful. “I invited inspiration / to come sit with me in my living room / but / instead she climbed into my mind and poured me a gaze so laced in longing” โ€” wow. I can certainly relate to that. Gorgeous lines throughout, and I like your truly free verse style, with varying line lengths… as well as perfect accompanying artwork. Also lovely to see the full beauty in your new profile image, dear Rachel xoxoxo (#cbs ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿคซ ;)) ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ˜Š

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Lia. Firstly, thank you, for this beautifully thoughtful and considered comment.

      Secondly, well…. What can I say here
      ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿ’ก๐Ÿฅฐโค๏ธ๐Ÿ˜‰… but #CBS!!!!! Hugely and mucho cbs. Hugs, a million and a zillion of them. Iโ€™m off to sleep now but will be checking out your blog thoroughly very very soon. Xoxoxox

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  8. My favourite of yours, hands down. Loved every word and meaning both clear and shadowed. Gorgeous, R.

    I know this is a long excerpt to quote but it spoke to me and I would have it as a poem of its own to read to remind me that there is always a real self behind the darkness:

    “…I wondered how she might dress
    without her melancholic yearnings and adorations of the moon
    and sea,
    and if she would let me
    cleanse the blackened traces of her lashes from her face
    or lick the salted scratches from old wounds
    I wanted to know what she looks like outside of shadows
    in the vibrant inkiness of noon… ”

    I mean…such a sigh

    I feel like saying thank you for writing this as odd as that sounds.

    ๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿ”ฅ

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    1. Awww Fiery. This is where I really feel those wide arms of your gorgeous soul wrapped around me tight. Thank you honey, I seriously feel very special that this resonates with you and what you took from it – that there is always a ‘real self’ behind the darkness, I know exactly what you mean. Actually for you to say this makes me feel emotional. I mean, such a sign from me too. Sending big hugs and love ๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿ’‹ xx

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  10. Rachel… as others have indicated, it’s breathtaking, and I love this phrase “in the vibrant inkiness of noon” — it really made me think. I usually associate inkiness with being dark and bluish or blackish, but now I thought of the vibrancy of mid-day, all the colours “inked in,” as it were… I loved this wanting “to know what she looks like outside of shadows” – to know her as a spontaneous person, and as a natural, spontaneous, whole being… rather than as a spectre of yearning. That’s how it felt to me. Also I love this carry-through of ink themes, in the “blackened traces of her lashes,” the inky noon, and the tattoo…. very impressive, dear friend. ๐Ÿ’™โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŽจ๐Ÿ‘โค๏ธŽ

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    1. Gosh, you know how to read my poems dear friend, far out

      to know what she looks like outside of shadowsโ€ โ€“ โ€œto know her as a spontaneous person, and as a natural, spontaneous, whole beingโ€ฆ rather than as a spectre of yearningโ€ – and I love your use of the word spectre, as I thought of using this word myself – like a ghostly apparition or shadow of her entirety.

      Also, Iโ€™m pleased you thought that about the inkiness of noon – exactly, I was thinking of the vibrancy of colour at that time of the day, the fullness of life, dripping with colour, but I realised it is often associated with blackened hues so wasnโ€™t sure if it would work.

      I canโ€™t thank you enough for this, I feel like you read every single line and got it, and saw every single thing between the lines too ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿฅฐ๐Ÿค— xx

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  11. Oh my, my! Rachel, this is such a gorgeous tribute to inspiration and the way it twists us around its little finger! The imagery is amazing and the flow uninterrupted. You are such a gifted writer, my dear. โค๏ธโค๏ธ

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    1. Punam, how delighted I am with this. Yes, inspiration has us twisted around her little fingers and itโ€™s hard to ignore what she tells us to pay attention to! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart โค๏ธโค๏ธ

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  12. By far the best surrealism poem dedicated for (inspiration) I have ever read. ๐Ÿ™‚

    The color palette of your words and the way you weaved them together is magic
    and pure heart. The imagery pops right into my imagination.

    Rachael, Two-Thumbs Way Up! ๐Ÿ™‚ I love this one. My favorite of this week. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Liked by 3 people

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      1. Bless you so much my friend.

        I too, respect and value our friendship.

        And speaking of inspiration and color palette.

        This song is for your poem and hope you enjoy the inspiration and colors in this music video.

        Empire Of The Sun – We Are The People (Official Video)

        You are welcome. Hope you enjoy the music. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Frank. Somehow I seem to refer to anything I personify in a poem as a โ€˜sheโ€™ – the moon, the sea, the night, inspiration… itโ€™s something Iโ€™ve come to realise as a theme in my poem. Maybe partly because Iโ€™m talking about parts of myself a lot of the time, maybe because I see these things as having feminine aspects to them, Iโ€™m not sure. But itโ€™s a good question.

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  16. This is obscenely beautiful Rachel. And, so strange and charming, how you described what inspiration might look like… as an imperfect human. Without her sweeping orations and goddess ambiance. Without the romance of the moon! A slightly disheveled inspiration, tired after a wild night of partying. In unflattering daylight, a broken heel, on a drowsy walk of shame. Might she let you comfort her in her imperfection…?

    We so rarely get to see her without her lore…. but goodness you painted her so beautifully in both roles.

    We must find her and see if your imaginings are true!

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    1. April, I do not see you as ever having a problem finding inspiration, and I feel you would have an extraordinary and breathtaking description of what she looks like and the form she takes. For me, I feel like she is often so melancholy. That the part of me that writes is usually the part filled with longing. I guess what I have really done in the poem is talk about this side of myself. Would I allow myself to be inspired by and experience joy, or do I focus so much on my melancholy I donโ€™t even see those things? Iโ€™m not sure if that even makes sense?

      I love it that you find this โ€œobscenely beautifulโ€ and โ€œstrange and charming.โ€ Those opposing forces, paradoxes, the โ€˜betweensโ€™ and โ€˜both.โ€™

      Hugs and hugs and hugs xoxox

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. There is nothing like inspiration sitting down beside you, making herself at home in your mind and your heart, lingering there, no rush, nowhere else to be…

      You have been missed Drew, Iโ€™ve wondered how you are and hoped youโ€™re ok. I wonโ€™t go on about it, I promise.

      Thank you for such beautiful comments about my poem. Iโ€™m so happy you liked it.

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      Reply

      1. Smiling. I am well now. Have been a little reluctant to get back. I feel no poetry in my bones so it has me hesitant. But I will post those two poems that accidentally. Hopefully find inspiration soon.

        So wonderful to read you. Doesn’t matter how long I go away, you don’t lose your touch, and I am grateful for that. Especially when I desperately need an injection of inspiration.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I understand exactly what you mean. Sometimes you just need a break, sometimes WP can feel overwhelming, as amazing and supportive as it can be at the same time. Im so happy you are feeling physically recovered.

        Surprised (and flattered) you donโ€™t think I lose my touch, I feel like I lose it all the time. Your โ€˜accidentalโ€™ poems were great and I had no idea of their โ€˜non-deliberateโ€™ status. Iโ€™m always inspired by your words.

        Like

    1. It really does beg this question Rob. And damn it, now I really feel I need to know! I guess muses can take the shape of many forms and personas, although there does seem to be particular ones that we repeatedly gravitate toward. Well, for me, anyway. So, what does your muse look like?? ๐Ÿ˜‚.

      Missed you around here. Hope your thanksgiving was a good one โค๏ธ

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      1. It was, Rachel. I got sick shortly after that, and had two days of contractors working in my home, which meant no rest for me. Anyway, I’m finally on the mend and look forward to reading you again. โค

        Liked by 2 people

  22. This is a very surreal piece. I enjoyed how you personified inspiration and admired her as both an unassailable Queen who sits on a throne of Sorrow and an ordinary person stripped of deity and grandeur. I can relate to this because although inspiration is elusive and finds her birth in pain, sheโ€™s never perfect. Even when a great bout of inspiration inundates me, nothing I write comes close to perfection.

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    1. I love your description of inspiration here. Itโ€™s a great feeling when someone takes something you write and extends it into something more beautiful by adding their own words and metaphors. When it resonates like that with someone else.

      Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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Published by In mind and out

I write from the corner of the world and from the corners of my mind. I'm Rachel, it was in my mind, and now it's out.