The Muse

Helloooo!!! Throughout the poem there is this cheeky tone to it that makes it fun reading this, while also engaging to pick up on how undeniable this love between the speaker and this person is. To be this bold in knowing you're loved, in knowing you love them the same, creates this unique, underlying power in these classic, familiar expressions (celestial objects as metaphors, writing love songs, etc.) of love!! While this relationship goes beyond what many others may relate to or be experienced in, its more-so simplistic language and familiar descriptions keeps you engaged enough to not get lost in any extensive prose, for you to really comprehend the depth in this relationship.

Lights, camera & I love you / I whisper- I know you do

What a cheeky way to draw intimacy to something that is (typically) distant and detached ("Lights, camera"; photography) by tying it to "& I love you", reframing the relationship between the person behind the camera and their model as an act of love!

Your hands tremble slightly / So I offer an assuring smile

There's this constant back-and-forth in the narration that makes expression of love between them strengthen; it's as if there's a conversation from the speaker to that person, without it being directly to that person. This play of—in a sense—commenting on both perspectives (and characters), while this poem is still strictly through the speaker's perspective, is unique and executed greatly!

Here we see this tremble, perhaps a trait revealing some nervousness in the subject's craft, or even perhaps some nervousness about how much they love the speaker, considering their craft *is* an act of love. Then I wondered if this poem isn't just a pure admission of appreciation and joy of being a muse, but is also a confirmation of how much the subject goes beyond to express their love for their muse, because the subject themselves has doubts?

Or of course, this tremble could also be revealing of how strong this subject loves their muse to the point they struggle to keep it in (which would add to the subversion of the poem's topics; to portray something as positive rather than it's usual negative associations, as "trembles" are usually associated with negativity just as being a muse is), though these lines;

You've written me love songs / What more could I ever ask for

Alongside, "I get to wake up to your melodies / everyday, could I really be dreaming?" Also adds to my wonder; as if the subject feels somewhat insecure about the possibility they're giving too little to this speaker, but the speaker continues to reaffirm that this love they're given is enough.

I get to wake up to your melodies /everyday, could I really be dreaming?

Love how these lines can be read as "I get to wake up to your melodies everyday" and "everyday, could I really be dreaming?"; giving this heavy emphasis on how equally frequent and ongoing this love from both the subject and their muse is!

everyday, could I really be dreaming? / My life's a surreal paradise / For I'm the muse of an artist

This is a great conclusion! Not only this pure, heavy appreciation and glee to be someone's muse stands out so much, and this deep understanding between the speaker and this person that there is this definite, raw intimacy that defines their relationship; but also how that there's this sense of freedom, within this heavy commitment to this love that is interesting, and is something else I appreciate a lot about this poem!! This is such a lovely poem, really great and so playful!! Keep writing!!

Goodmorning Alex! I am really excited to review your work The Muse in honor of Review Month! I've been wanting to review your work for a bit!

What is really interesting about this poem is typically the narrator is writing to their muse. You switch up the narrative so that the narrator is the muse. I find that fascinating and also a unique take on the concept of a muse! The narration constantly swapping from "you" to "I" really plays around with the dynamic of narrator and subject, as we, the audience, can almost see from both perspectives, even though the narration is limited to only one.

I also want to take note of the language of this poem. This poem feels very personal to the narrator. These lines stick out to me:

I curtsy, brimming with pride

You pluck at my heartstrings
Oh, I love the way you do it

My life's a surreal paradise

These lines really create the emotion of appreciation and happiness from the narrator as they enjoy being the muse. Some narratives of this theme take being the muse as a burden, rather than something of enjoyment. I really enjoy how this piece highlights the positive emotions the narrator has about being the muse but also admiring the subject as well. Almost as if they are both muses!

My suggestions are few and far between. I would love to see more emphasis or even consistency with the italicized phrases to really highlight the contrast between subject and narrator. Those lines already stand apart from the rest of the poem as they feel like statements from the heart of the narrator, but it could be interesting to either add more of them OR play around with the structure of the ones you already have to create an interesting visualization to the poem.

All in all, this is a clean poem that expresses a clear emotion in a beautiful and distinctive way by introducing a new perspective on the subject of being a muse. Amazing work! I can't wait to read more from you! Keep writing and God bless.