> Muses are a problematic concept, especially for heterosexual women, being so
> adamantly female (Robert Graves got in all sorts of tangles on that one).
> Moreover, there's that whole Romantic ideology of Genius, of the feminine
> sensibility impregnating, as it were, the masculine intellect, which
> apparently isn't possible the other way around. So I like Lorca's concept
> of duende, which has always been a useful idea for me.
>
>> Have a human, erotic etc.
>> relationship with your mistress, mister, wife, husband etc.
>> Save the rest (the poems) for the muse.
>
> But on the other hand - how, Stephen, do you have an inhuman erotic
> relationship?? Isn't eroticism - if you define it, say, as the cultural
> expression of sexuality - somehow irreducibly human?
In dreams and non-dream states I have experienced what have been incredible
erotic "states of presence" with absolutely (seeming) divine, usually female
figures. Whether, say, when young, an equally young, beautiful Joan Baez or
Diane Warwick. I remember this kind of charisma biz going back to dreams way
young. (That was Lorca with the Flamenco dancer which - not consummated -
definitely got his script flowing. In 1952 a writer found her and wrote up
her 'real' life in Atlantic Magazine - I still have the article.)
I have had lovers, a painter who became my wife - who waxed royal - as with
a muse - over David Bowie. She made incredible, wildly androgynous paintings
at the time. I suspect the presence of Robert Creeley once pumped up the
work for both men and women.
Whether or not either of our intellects were "impregnated" by our different
muses, I cannot remember! But the writing and the painting, yes. Even if
they are demanding, muses are always fun to serve/please. The poem as some
kind of Eucharist.
(Graves is full of _____)
Back to work on a job that requires no muse. (sigh)
Stephen V
http://stephenvincent.net/blog/
>
> But I had better get down to some work.
>
> All the best
>
> A
>
>
> Alison Croggon
>
> Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
> Editor, Masthead: http://masthead.net.au
> Home page: http://alisoncroggon.com
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