I used to think one needed to be in a dark desolate place to write good poetry, or to create any fine art, or to compose a wonderful piece of music. It had come to my attention, that my previous thought was based on what I saw "out there" and not what is felt "in here"...in my own body/mind/soul. To be present, as we say in zen...is to learn of the 10,000 things springing to life, in all the various forms of life. To be present is to express what is happening, translating it into art in order to share the experience with others. It could be stirred by a cloistered darkness, by a lightness of being, or by a swirl of both. ~ I feel it is never purely one state or another; however darkness seems to be like rain putting out the light and lightness of being seems to obliterate the dark states. When one is elated, it's challenging to sit down with pen and paper and write...As the world glows and you glow with ecstasy...but it can be done!! ...