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Ellis Wiens's avatar

"I will defuse the muses / who once longed for my gaze," In other words, begone thot (lol), followed up by the immense profoundness of 'retiring the old face that kept anxiety estranged'. The way one's persona manifests in relation to the ego versus its environment is always a fascinating concept to me.

Rasmus Rosenkrantz's avatar

Haha that's one way to interpret it! Thank you for reading Ellis! I really like your interpretation, and I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on my work<3

Luciana Moroianu's avatar

I loved that line too. Great wordplay and imagery as always

Rasmus Rosenkrantz's avatar

Thank you so much Luciana<3!!

Adrião Pereira da Cunha's avatar

The poem feels like someone finally admitting how heavy it has been to live behind their own silence. There’s a storm gathering inside, not violent but dense, the kind that forms after years of swallowing words. The decision to “defuse the muses” sounds like a quiet rebellion against the pressure to be inspiring or admirable. It’s the moment a person stops performing and lets themselves simply exist. “Retiring the old face” carries the ache of shedding a mask worn for too long, a mask that kept fear at bay but also kept tenderness out. Turning the world’s gaze inward isn’t ego; it’s a plea for space, for breath. And the final gesture clinging to “the picture of Him” feels like reaching for the one presence that doesn’t demand perfection. The poem becomes a confession of exhaustion, yes, but also a fragile act of faith. It’s someone choosing, at last, to return to themselves.

Rasmus Rosenkrantz's avatar

I love this reading Adrião! Thank you so much for reading and commenting as always. I enjpy how you are able to find very positive angles of interpretation, even with some of my darker poems!

Rea de Miranda's avatar

This is beautiful, Rasmus! 🙏

Rasmus Rosenkrantz's avatar

Thank you so much, Rea<3

Stefan Baciu's avatar

Read this is in my inbox and absolutely loved it, came here to tell you this.

Rasmus Rosenkrantz's avatar

Thank you for the wonderful comment, Stefan! I am glad to have you here:)

Daniel V. Gaglio's avatar

Feels like an implosion

Rasmus Rosenkrantz's avatar

That's a good way of putting it! Thank you for reading, Daniel!

Ricardo Guzman Jr's avatar

Air of repression!

I like the idea of that describing a storm, I imagine the positive and negative charges separating creatinf lightning, an exclamation in the sky like your poem to the world!

Rasmus Rosenkrantz's avatar

Thank you so much Ricardo! That line was definitely important to the poem, it wasn't in the original draft but was added late in the writing process. I am glad it resonated with you too