Column of the Week

The second addition in the Column of the Week. Writing tips, quotes to think about, poems to read, and words to know.

June 8, 2007 - June 15, 2007

Writing Tip: With all the poetry out there today, or even just all the poetry on this site, it’s very important to stand out and be original. Describe things in a new way. Think about how you would explain or describe that emotion/place/situation to someone who has never experienced it before. Make the reader think, ‘oh yeah, I know what you mean’.





Words to know:

Paste these on your wall, use them in your poetry, or just think about them. Broaden your vocabulary.


Tussle (v) : struggle

Ubiquitous (a) : everywhere at the same time

Silver-tongued (a) : eloquent

Simper (v) : smile in a silly way -n. silly smile

Maudlin (a) : foolishly sentimental

Mawkish (a) : sentimental in a sickening way




Poem to read:

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.



Quotes:

“People ask for criticism, but they only want praise. “
W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965)


“Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.”
Franklin P. Jones


“Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.”
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)


“ If you live to be one hundred, you've got it made. Very few people die past that age.”
George Burns (1896 - 1996)

Feel free to leave comments or questions below, and I will reply to them as soon as possible. If you would like advice on anything that you have written, leave the link to the poem below as well. Thanks.

Khourey (Zillion)