Treat your muse
like a lover
and I don’t mean
flatter it
or be at your best
creativity is meant
to be ragged
and real
you are married
to that part
of yourself
that flirty elf
that quiet hum
that sudden roar
so don’t expect
it to be perfect
it will get it wrong
and let you down
but you are in it together
so be patient
be yourself
but whatever you do
don’t be lazy
the magic
that stitched you together
early on
eventually frays
so you need to hunt
for the loose ends
and carefully
lovingly
learn
to sew.