Who Says My Obligation Has Expired?

"The Beak" assigned a challenge way back when;
each class compiled the words. ( Say "homophone" )
We seventh graders beat the ninth… but then
my list alone edged theirs - won on my own!
That birthed a punning Jinn… and now he's grown.
In time he met a muse; soon they conspired
to twist my thinking, writing. ( Hear the groan? )
Methinks my obligation has expired.

I joined online critique; they tagged along.
Each time I learned a form, she mused… he bent.
As poetry (once hated) turned to song,
they stirred and hounded me till I was spent.
From time to time, of late, they'd been content
to positively share. ( Had they retired? )
I told them (even though they'd not relent)
"Look, guys, my obligation has expired!"

"Write freely, follow form, do parody,
pen stream-of-conscious… anything you want!"
I told myself… and did. They said, "You'll see."
I don't need them; I'm capable… I shan't
rely on them; I finally slowed down,
let days go by between when I desired.
Wrote serious again – far less the clown.
At last... my obligation had expired!

Another writing challenge came along;
I heard their strains again: they lute'd, lyre'd.
I took the bait, and louder rang their song…
At least that  obligation has expired…

but…
         my Jinn chants "Obligation must be sired.”
then Muse, “Our obligation must be fired.”
and both, “Your obligation’s not retired;
just face it, obligation ain’t expired.”

_{© Daniel J Ricketts 19 Dec 2003 
day 30 of a challenge to write a poem-a-day for 30 days
Rev. 22 Jan 2004}