February Sunset

There is a special place at the edge of my yard where I like to sit and watch the sun set.  I've been taking a watercolor class and am thinking about trying to paint one of these beautiful skies; however, nothing can compare to seeing these dazzling colors in person.  

Daily Something #5: My Thoughts on Words

Words are more than just labels.  They are the currency of explanation and are more than just ink on a page.  They give voice to our environment, our dreams, and the most private parts of our inner being.  When I think of words, I think of them in four dimensions.  I'll use the word lollipop as an example.

First, there is the appearance of the word, how the letters are grouped and combined.  Take, for example, the letters l, i, and p.  They give a sense of balance to the word lollipop.  The second dimension is how the word sounds when you say it or hear it spoken.  The l's roll off your tongue and move into a powerful explosion at the end.  The meaning of the word is the third dimension. Some words have only one meaning or a very dominant meaning that makes them resonate more than others.  Lollipop is one of those words.  When we see or hear it, we can't help but think of a yummy treat on a stick.  And that brings me to the fourth dimension, which is how a word makes us feel and what it makes us remember.

With this in mind, I'll begin sharing some of my favorite words with you.  Here is the first batch of ten out of my one hundred.

1.  circle

2.  masquerade 

3.  breathe

4.  luminescence

5.  slipper

6.  slow

7.  cloud

8.  honeysuckle

9.  happenstance

10.  embrace

Four & 4: Lights

LIGHTS

Sky

Neon

Ceiling

Night

Taking Advantage of What Was Left Behind

SHE:

I ate your pistachios left in the bag on the counter,

Cracked them open  SNAP!  SNAP!  SNAP!

Savored every greenish nut, except for the one

That was rotten and left a bitter taste in my mouth.

HE:

Upon reaching the snow covered cabin,

I searched my backpack for the salted, green nuts,

Only to realize that in my forgetfulness

My lover savored them as a gift in my absence.

-LG

Daily Something #4: An Exercise with Words

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I am reading The Discovery of Poetry by Frances Mayes. So far, I have been thoroughly enjoying it.  In chapter two, she discusses how we are affected by the texture and sounds of words and suggests an exercise that will allow you to discover what your eyes, ears, and imagination particularly respond to by writing down your one hundred favorite words.  This seems simple enough, but if you're like me, once you try it, you'll soon discover that pairing down the English language to a mere one hundred words is a nerve racking exercise.  No matter the quality and richness of the words you choose, you're bound to feel as if you've wrongly discriminated against thousands of other perfectly good words.  But, choices must be made, and a line must be drawn in the dictionary's sand.