Poetry Month, April 2018: 'Words'; 3 Poems, Discussion, Words From the Wise and Others
What are Words For?
Click thumbnail to view full-sizePoetry of Words
I couldn’t let poetry month go by without penning a poem about ‘Words’. They are, after all, my career, my hobby and my passion.
In linguistics a word is the smallest element that can be uttered in isolation with objective or practical meaning.
We learn to speak, then we learn to read, write and spell, with ease or with varying difficulties. I taught dyslexics for many years. I was surprised at how many of my students liked poetry, indeed how many enjoyed writing it. They were encouraged to write it without worrying about the spelling. After all, most were able to use phonetic patterns to make sure anyone reading would know what was meant. Who needs spelling?!
The choice of words for poetry is different from writing prose; some say the words should rhyme, some that free verse is better. Whatever you think about that, poetry has a certain rhythm, is a medium which can be a lot shorter than prose but say much more.
Here are a few poems about words.
Words (1)
Words woven round wires in brain,
waking images for text to trace
on page for all to read.
Words to pique emotions fast,
conjure minds’ responsiveness,
each his actions feed.
Words plucked from heart and soul,
washed by tears on each soft face
or greeted by smiles’ seed.
Words to cut a deep, dark gash,
throwing horror, death, disgrace,
at turmoil’s end, cruel deed.
Words soothing wanderer’s path,
calming each a worried brow,
spirits raising, firming creed.
Words: mankind’s ambassador for Peace and Love
Too Many Words!
Words (2)
Words, words, words,
rabbit, rabbit, rabbit,
will it never stop?
Bombarding senses,
nagging noise,
pursuing ’til I drop.
Can’t you be quiet?
Can’t you see
me down on my knees?
Don’t you realise
I’m all spent,
swaying in the breeze?
Words, words, words,
have a heart,
Just zip it, please, please, please……
I’m fraying at the edges,
will kick you into touch,
so I think you’d better shush..
Thank you very much.
Word Games
Words (3)
Games with words,
Scrabble, Lexicon,
games I played when
very young.
Scrabble makes
you think and spell,
teaches you
to choose well.
Lexicon with
Mum and Dad,
fun to add to,
good or bad!
Points for letters
rare in many,
more for me
for any!
Childhood fun,
learn and play,
done with grandchildren,
mine, today.
For Better of Worse
Words can be used for better or worse, for richer or poorer. Our relationship with them depends on whether we cherish or abuse them. So let’s choose them carefully, economically and to best effect.
It is possible to communicate in other ways, of course, but words make it a whole lot easier. With the words come tone, facial expression, gestures, volume, all making up our body language. Emotion also comes with words, if we pick them carefully.
Words conjure images. Images conjure words. We can even make up our own. How often do you hear children use their own vocabulary? Shakespeare made up words, so why shouldn’t we?
Shakespeare
Shakespeare's Own Words
You can link them to his plays if you follow the site source below.
barefaced, critic, dwindle, eyeball - barefaced liar; eyeball someone (face to face, eye to eye)
frugal, hobnob, jaded, lackluster - hobnob with someone, chatter with them (also a biscuit!)
monumental, moonbeam, negotiate, obsequiously
puking, swagger, vaulting, zany - 'puking' is my favourite, so onomatopoeic!
Winston Churchill, Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeWords from the Wise
Winston Churchill
- 'You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.'
- 'We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.'
- 'Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.'
- 'Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.'
Mark Twain
- 'The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.'
- 'Dance like nobody’s watching; love like you’ve never been hurt. Sing like nobody’s listening; live like it’s heaven on earth.'
- 'The secret to getting ahead is getting started.' (one for all writers, I think?)
- 'Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.'
Oscar Wilde
- 'Memory… is the diary that we all carry about with us.'
- 'Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.'
- 'I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I’m saying.'
- 'Women are made to be loved, not understood.'
My Personal Favourites
Words make phrases and certain phrases have a personal meaning for me, words spoken to me in a variety of situations.
- ‘She’s wicked i’n’t she - Grandma?’ said by my granddaughter to her Mum.
She was bothered that I’d see her looking ‘odd’ with blobs of suncream on her face before her Mum rubbed them in, so I did the same and left them on my cheeks and forehead, then pretended I didn’t want her to see me by poking my head round the door then disappearing with a shriek ‘oh no!’. She thought I was crackers and joined in the fun.
- ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’ said by one of my dyslexic students.
We were saying goodbye on the last day of term, the day he was leaving our school, going on to college. He was one of my all-time favourite pupils (I know! We’re not meant to have those, but we do, just try not to make it obvious.) He came to our specialist school worrying about his difficulties, with no self-esteem. He left with excellent grades, full of confidence and went on to university and more success. And why? Because he was determined to pull through, to make something of himself, with or without my help. I was just the crutch along the way. I told him he was the one who had ‘done it’.
- ‘I love you’ said by anyone to anyone, but especially by my loved ones to me.
How that makes our hearts soar! How wonderful when we hear it for the first time! How great it is to be loved.
- ‘I’ve missed you.’
This simple phrase makes us feel worthy, appreciated, loved and makes us realise that we are in people’s thoughts when we are apart. I had been away for 10 weeks’ holiday and all my grandchildren uttered those words when I first saw them on my return, emphasised by a huge hug.
Daffodil, Primrose and Austin A30
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeMore Favourites
- ‘It’s lovely to see you.’
Good friends meet us and we know they value our company, our conversation and our relationships. It’s just that extra appreciation that is worth so much when expressed. We might know it but it’s good to hear.
- ‘Can I help you?’ said with sincerity.
Someone is telling us we are not alone, that somebody cares, someone who can add a positive to any situation.
- ‘Well done’ from my parents (sadly not around any more).
How special it is to have recognition from one’s parents, to have the knowledge that they are proud of us, to feel their encouragement along the way.
- ‘You’ve passed!’ - exams, driving test (car & motorbike)
Months of hard work learning to drive have paid off and we are finally independent, able to save up for a car, drive around with our friends, use it for work.
My Dad let me drive his car only a few days after passing my test. How trusting he was and how grateful I was, and am, to him for bestowing that trust.
My granddaughter has recently passed her driving test and drove off with pride in her own little car, saved up for by extra work in the holidays and after college.
- ‘You are a good/creative/interesting… writer.’ said by a fellow hubber or two.
This makes me feel professionally proud, as though I’ve achieved something. I’m not blowing my own trumpet, it’s humbling but pleasing and gives me encouragement.
Single word references can evoke sights, sounds or smells:
- Daffodil, primrose, buttercup, daisy
all bring memories of childhood with places and people to complete the scene.
- Austin A30
The mere mention of this by anyone recalls my first car and all the places we went together. My Dad bought it for me for the, then, princely sum of £50! I called it 'The Bubble' because it was grey and looked like one.
Old Words of the Landscape
A Question to Finish with
Many older words, especially those connected to nature and the landscape, have been removed from the Junior Oxford English Dictionary because they are considered to have gone out of children's common use and, which is worse, knowledge. I was surprised to find that they included words such as 'acorn' and 'heron! Let's not lose any of our words, historical or otherwise.!
What would we do without words? Consider that question! It poses so many scenarios, so many difficulties, in fact I can’t imagine what the answer could be. I’ll leave that to you!
Sources
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/wordsinvented.html
https://www.brainyquote.com/lists/authors/top_10_winston_churchill_quotes
https://www.brainyquote.com/lists/authors/top_10_oscar_wilde_quotes
https://simplelifestrategies.com/wisdom-from-mark-twain-inspiring-quotes/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word
Questions & Answers
© 2018 Ann Carr
Comments
Well done, Ann, from one word lover to another.
I can assure you that 'acorn' is still a common word here on our hill. Our grandchildren still like playing with all of the acorns they find around here.
I really enjoyed reading this article. It's very well structured. I especially related to the second poem. My mother talks non-stop!
Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed this. Wordplay is always a delight.
You are wonderful, Ann, in playing with the words so beautifully. I am much fascinated by the entire input you provided here. The poems are great; the knowledge about "words', the imagery, the quotes, and everything is very beautifully presented in an appealing style.
Thanks for the rich information.
Great poems on words. Effective format, putting out so much in short lines with so few words. Interesting exercises, and enjoyable, life-giving "Words from the Wise."
Hello Ann - Well here you have offered us a primrose lane, where life is a holiday of words. Very nice contribution to poetry month.
Without words, we are reduced to caveman days of grunts and pointing: maybe drawings on the walls, but no more.
Minus words, how would we have achieved the technological prowess we now take for granted?
Absent words, how would we find alternative ways to say anything? The thesaurus would fade to nothingness.
Sans words, how would we understand other cultures; learn their languages, and discover the roots of our own?
Disappear words: we are left mute.
Words are used to express ones feeling sand you have certainly done a great one here. Expressed with great meaning.
Back when we used to use dictionaries, I loved to look up words I didn’t know. And Scrabble is a favorite of mine, too, although I haven’t played it in awhile.
A cute, charming, exquisite and sentimental take on words with a difference. Written only such as you can. Clever, all-expansive and brilliant!
Quite touching examples. I have over 30 poems on words and poetry but your take is different, rich, diversified ... necessary. A great piece of writng and excellent poems. I thought that you had given up the challenge. Peace!
Thanks for the words Ann, and the pictures, Your enthusiasm for language is refreshing. I love the Austin. I had an Austin Cooper once, old stinky leather seats and glossy wood interior, it was sweet. Hard to find parts though, I had to give it up.
Well you have a way with words, Ann, and have shown us in the poetry that less can be more. In your sentiments you show that words can have such special impact used in the right places!
Ann in this world of social media, texting, instant messages, Instagram and Twitter, it feels that our language is becoming sloppy and careless. And then I find this beautiful gem by you. There still is hope.
I can see you do love words and you've shared it with me as I read through your hub. You made me appreciate words more, its beauty, what they express.
I am glad it is April so that we get all these really nice treats from you. A toss up whether I like the word work or the poetry work more. Thank you for both.
you could never stop to amaze me, words.. clever and the research was also clever.. Ann, April so does deserve you.. Bless you
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