Euterpe is absent. She seems to have left me these last few months. More correctly, her orbit seems more distant. I feel the gravitational pull and the words gladly spill forth. Unfortunately, the pattern on the page isn't often pleasing. The muse is fleeting.

My songwriting has been sporadic at best these last few months. As I've said in previous posts, my internal editor is often too strong. I tend to reject ideas quickly if they don't seem original and unique. I try to develop my own voice as a songwriter with the ultimate goal of sounding like "me" instead of someone else. Then again, maybe I think too damn much.

Last month I spewed forth a 95% complete lyric while driving alone on a bright spring day. I pulled over so I could write down all the disparate images and lines as they literally burst out of me. Later, I spent most of a rare lunch hour honing what I wrote. Rearranging words, trying different images, finding a real story in the words... I thought I had something. Weeks later, I can't seem to find a melody or chord structure that makes sense. Everything seems like something else...

Thankfully, I keep a notebook of unfinished songs. Unfortunately, the notebook gets thicker as time goes on.

Writing is such a fickle lover. Some of my most cherished moments are those when the words spill freely, find a melody, and become song. The feeling of completion, when I write in pen, put away the pencil, and sing this new creation for my wife (always the first step) is beyond compare. As my friend Michael would say, "better than sex," but I think he's doing something wrong. Still, pretty damn fine...

So here's a moment of quietude hoping for clarity and inspiration. May the words be worth saying and the melody worth singing. Euterpe, I'd sure love to see you again...

Note: From my favorite Shawn Colvin album, I Want It Back is one of many fine songs from Shawn. She's out for a limited number of dates with John Hiatt this summer. Please, oh please, make StL part of your itinerary!