96.

Launch out on his story, Muse, daughter of Zeus,

start from where you will—sing for our time too.

-Homer's Odyssey

Cross-legged on the desk I asked, “What is Muse?” I wanted these students to consider whether or not they had muses of their own. A strange question for seniors who have one foot out the door and a teacher who is struggling to stand on her own two at the end of a long week. Nevertheless, we sat and thought together. Scratching pencils shrouded in the muggy silence of thoughtfulness. You can categorize a high school student’s potential muses into three separate categories: parent, coach, boyfriend/girlfriend. so says their experience in life and that experience is pretty big; comparatively speaking. the beauty of being the teacher is avoiding being put on the spot (because you live on the spot, thereby controlling said spot). i didn’t have to answer that big question of whether or not i have a muse, and it’s a good thing because i’m not sure i could’ve given them an answer. on that spot, the one where i try to encourage comfort and ask questions that connect in these kid’s thoughts (sometimes like looking for water in the Sahara) i spoke of my dad and how i used to think he was crazy, but now how i quote him on my American Literature syllabus. i spoke of transference of creative energy, then i resorted to conversation of coaches, because i wanted these kids to understand that to be inspired by a muse, we have to be willing to be inspired.

while i wasn't on the spot to answer, i have given myself something to consider for the next little while. new thoughts on muses and mentors and creating. my initial reflections suggest that beyond this willingness to be inspired, there is also something about preserving ourselves so that we have the strength to greet our muse at the door and accept what is offered. we have to contain our own energies in such a way that we are not depleted by the days that we live. it is not a matter of pretending either; it is quite real to suggest that in order to listen we must first keep our ears clean and that to see we must be awake.

we must be durable vessels for these muses to sing through; as they are all just passing through...