Muse

My wondrous muse

My wonderful world

You seem distant this time

I scribble in vain

But you do not appear

I feel lost to you

Or perhaps you are to me?

I am pacified with dribble

Distracted by nonsense

I rush to your side

You are gone when I arrive

In this fleeting time

I grapple to find a space

Just one poetic verse

I feel it should be said

I feel it should be done

I feel until I am numb

The words escape again

As despair becomes my companion

Together we march in monotony

I can only be in one place at a time

Still I get caught up in a dream

-Camille Delaquise

This poem appears in RISE, Camille’s second contemporary poetry collection. Muse considers the ache of creative estrangement — capturing the restless tension between longing and distraction, and the sorrow of pursuing inspiration when language feels just beyond reach.

This poem is available as a contemporary poetry print on textured recycled card.