How I Channel the Muse: On Meter and Eyes

Thoughts from India on meter and the origin of consciousness

As those of you who subscribe to my Spellsletter know, I am in the middle of some rather long travels through India, partly promoting my new book Earth Days and partly working on a new book about meter, magic, and matriarchy.

It’s been a busy time, with lectures on meter (which I was delighted to find were met with enthusiasm—meter lives!) at four universities so far and of course all the travel through this astounding place. Finally today I have landed at someplace quiet and beautiful where I can be entirely alone by the ocean, and sure enough, my Muse was waiting for me.

Over my morning chai I felt the familiar yet ever new tickle of a poem ready to bless me, and I knew it would be dactylic. I settled myself to receive it, and she came. Here’s a photo of what it looked like (and a bonus monkey I saw ten minutes later):