OLD MUSE

My Muse is off in Cincinnati so again

The very old one, who speaks mostly

In Linear B, has been coming by

My Greek is very bad. So bad, in fact,

That Great Athena herself warned me

To stop ever trying to speak it.

Still, I understand a little. We manage,

(For the most part) the old muse and I.

Lately, whatever music I put on she changes

To Johnny Dodds and His Black Bottom Stompers

Playing “Wild Man Blues” (Armstrong on trumpet)

“That’s what jazz should sound like,” she says

“That’s how we played it when I was young

And jazz came up the river to Knossos.”