Inspired by Andre Brink's book: "Before I forget," I have thought about my own Muses, who I met during my life, and who inspired me to write poetry - love poetry - short stories, and novels. I have been blessed by so many wonderful women, who have been great friends, besides partaking with me in various sessions at 'Writers Write' workshops, assisting me with forging my enthusiasm for writing into an emerging personal style under Amanda's caring guidance. Much later, I realized the quality of those writing workshops that brought out the best in us in search of self-expression in our literary efforts. I wish to honor them all, writing about their importance to me, their dedication and time, during our relationships. Experiencing friendship and love will be the motor for inspired writing and the greatest gift for the poet. Muses appear in person and their number might be three, six, and nine, depending on their tasks, as known from Classical Greek mythology. Picasso stated that an artist has his personal Muse, extending their numbers to ten. In this sense, I have a peek at my artistic endeavors by experiencing my own tenth Muse. who guided me along to my self-realization in the arts.

Z J Galos:Born in Eastern Austria, close to the Hungarian border, he witnessed as a young man the horrors of a nation's suppression, erupting in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. He finished his education in art and architecture in Vienna, married, and sailed for the Cape of Africa, an adventure that followed his childhood dreams. He had drawn African animals for his art classes, but the time had come to see them in their natural habitat. Meeting a varied facet of people and cultures, working as a draughtsman in an Engineering office, as an architect for a cultural center, and as a coordinator of craftsmen and professionals, he made good use of his language skills traveling throughout Southern Africa.During a trip to Lesotho, a native artist showed him rock paintings with their stark palimpsest outlines and with typified movements of animals and humans. It made a lasting impression on him and influenced his artistic work.His vast collection of drawings and slides had been lost during a change of domiciles, but further studies of the art of the San-people reawakened his dormant artistic longing for expression of his art, filling sketchbooks with drawings and notepads with poetry and prose. While visiting the capitals of Europe, he sensed the bond of art being borderless and free, reaching out across continents into the world.During a visit to Greece, he was accepted into a circle of artists and poets, who encouraged him to continue his art and a friend introduced him to the works of famous Greek poets. In South Africa, he joined writing and poetry workshops of Writers Write. It was to open the floodgates of his creativity.He decided to travel through Greece and visit its sites of antiquity, read up on Classical mythology, and enjoy translations of Greek poetry and prose.He settled 2013/14 in Klosterneuburg-Weidling. Poet Nikolaus Lenau is buried here. Franz Kafka had stayed here, and there's a memorial room in Kierling, where he stayed at a Sanatorium. Their writings will always be an inspiration.