Erato's [Muse who mediates between all forms of love and the human and spiritual experience of expressing love fully] influence can be seen in . . . other poets, speakers, or writers listed here for each theme . . .

• Love as a gift of friendship (Gertrude Stein, May Sarton)

• Love as a passion and burning physical fire (Anais Nin, Henry Miller)

• Love as an expression of human compassion (the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa)

• Love as embracing the reverence of anything spiritual, numinous, and mysterious (Rumi, Saint Theresa of Avila)

Angeles Arrien, The Nine Muses