Muse of Muses

You may think that I am cruel, because I enjoy what I do. But how could I? You do not understand that I am not human; I do not feel joy, or anger, or rage. All the things you accuse me of feeling I know, but I cannot experience them myself. I would like to explain that to you, but you never let me in. You lock the doors and draw the curtains when you see me in your yard, even in the coldest night of winter. You get numb with fear when you meet me.

Or maybe you are already cold as ice. Then you are one of the people who use me like a slave, calling me to do your bidding. You think that it is my destiny to obey you without consequence. But one day you will pay my price also, and you will already know what it is. You will get what you forced unto others from me, because that is the only fair price.

Then at last will you feel like the third group of humans. You will feel hot needles pricking your skin and your heart and your very soul. Those really know me, as I have touched them. They know the relaxing numbness that is me, and the chilly cold, and the warming red hot flames that are also me. They feel the alternation between those three, and know that all that is me.

My name is Pain, and I am mighty. You close your hearts, lock them with iron chains and hide them from me, but I do not need your hearts. I come to those whose hearts are frozen and dead just like I get those who shield them with Love. Love is stronger than I am, yes, although he is a part of me, like I am a part of him. But I don't need your hearts as I can live in your souls.

Did you know that, when you try to hide your heart from me, you lock away Love and Happiness and all their brothers and sisters. And what is left behind is me in your soul, together with Fear and Anger, who are close friends of mine. I do not want to do that to you, but you do not listen. My name is Pain, and pain is what I bring. But can you not see that you need me?

Without me there would be no tragedies and no happy endings. Without me you could not dream of a better world. What would Happiness be worth to you, if I would not show you her value? The best broken-hearted songs have been written after a look in my face, as have the stories that touched your heart and made you cry.

I do not ask you to love me, as I well know that you cannot. I just ask you to appreciate me as what I really am: a part of this world. I am not your executioner, nor am I your slave. I am the muse of muses and bringer of sense to things that wouldn't exist without me. Accept me and use what I have to offer, for you are already paying the price and it should rather not be wasted.