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Parenthetical Expressions


Splats of color,
brilliantly dangerous,
caught in mid-drop,
rank as wildly adventurous.






Zig-zagging thought patterns,
zooming from valley to precipice,
remain captured from total oblivion
in parenthetical abyss.





Echoes of screaming delight,
sighs of subtle acceptance,
balance well-enunciated explanations,
accents and dialects of resistance.







Stark graphic visuals,
bright impressionist strokes
eye-merge magically
in contrast to what an abstract evokes.







Vibrant, living personalities,
in-depth understanding,
fresh faced youth,
all mind-expanding.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Color, thoughts,
sounds, visuals
personal traits,
not just residuals
but the essence,
the excitement
in text or life,
true enlightenment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





Just as text would not fully come alive
without the subtlety of parenthetical expressions,
so would life run mundane without punctuation,
dramatic pauses  and dynamic impressions.

All hail to ellipses, parentheses,
lowly periods and commas,
as well as to the breathless  pauses,
all contributing to our personal dramas!








Author notes

Example:
Aaron picks up the axe.
Aaron, cringing at what he must do, picks up the axe.

John: Mary, will you go away with me for the weekend?
John: Mary, (pauses, looking deeply into Mary's eyes)
will you---go away with me for the weekend?

Ah, what would we be without punctuation?
Duller, than dull, perhaps, without all that descriptive
commentary held in place by commas and brackets!
The words and illustrations attempt to portray
the punctuation of life/

In a list

A contest entry

Words come alive when answered in kind.

    : , Your review:

    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
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Comments

1 - 36 of 36

  • Howard Manser gold member
    June 7

    Edit | Reply

    Very Astute!

    An intelligent critical thinker hides behind this pen. Howard


  • white stone
    May 4

    Edit | Reply
    Very nice, melikes. This rolls along at a submarine depth, true insights here. Life without punctuation would not be much of a life at all...


    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      May 4
      Edit | Reply
      Submarine, hmmmm....reminds me of the ups and downs
      of health and life. But then there is always the imagination
      to keep us perking along!!


  • waydownuponjoy
    March 30

    Edit | Reply

    I first had to wonder why ...

    the images or videos had to be moved or deleted, for I know these are your trademark and I would have liked to see them! As for the poetical thoughts that you've shared inbetween ... I feel that you did a good job with describing those glimpses into the self-of-thought and ended them all on a 'high note' that sounds just right!

    "All hail to ellipses, parentheses,
    lowly periods and commas,
    as well as to the breathless pauses,
    all contributing to our personal dramas!"

    Accordingly, I try to view such unexpected – and, at times, God-given – interruptions as punctuation marks in the writing of my life story: they remind me to pause, breathe, and rest along the way.

    May you carry on as usual with all of your vibrant energy! j y


    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 30
      Edit | Reply
      By now you have probably discovered
      that about two months ago
      the system changed so that
      judges could not see the graphics
      in "anon" contests. To see, the judge
      might sign out and come in as a
      "visitor" and then all will show!
      Or for those with a second account
      that will work, too.

      Thank you for your thoughtful review.

      M-C


  • drifting cloud silver member
    March 29

    Edit | Reply
    Very skillfully done. Entices one to consider the importance of punctuation. This includes normal talking, for people's attention tends to drift and what you want to get across needs to be highlighted. Sometimes, a pause, a space does the trick. In poetry, a new line perhaps or italics.


    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 29
      Edit | Reply
      Smiling....picturing people's attention starting to drift...
      in their presence, on the phone---pucntuation, yes,
      and changing the subject to them!

      Nice to see you reading and commenting, Drifting Cloud!

      M-C


  • pixiestix gold member
    March 26

    Edit | Reply
    Life would be flat like the words on the page without punctuation inserted along the way and especially those "breathless pauses".

    Wonderful take on the prompt! Thanks for entering and sharing your talent and wisdom.


    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 27
      Edit | Reply
      Ah, the story of one's life
      could be told in breathless pauses
      from youth thru old age!
      I'll stop with that point!!!


  • Myrtle
    March 26

    Edit | Reply
    We need a sampling or balance of punctuation in our lives not just to make it interesting but to help us to grow...to reach our full potential.

    Your artwork punctuates your beautiful message. I'm glad I stopped by

    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 27
      Edit | Reply


      A glowing green accent for you, Myrtle,
      in keeping with your organic roots.


    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 27
      Edit | Reply
      Myrtle, I picture you at Whole Foods
      surrounded by living color, organic and visual!
      Now that is punctuation!!!

      Nice of you to stop by.

      M-C


  • bigperm
    March 25

    Edit | Reply

    so much for an anonymous contest. lol

    You're just as bad as me and a certain someone else. Answering comments, not to mention your incredibly original art . Anywho, such a colorful way to have my senses floored; both visually and verbally. This is a very intelligent piece that truly epitomizes a life best articulated by punctuation. Bravo to you.

    ps I really like the image before last. It has a very biblical feel (not that I'm remotely religious, but I love those illustrations in bibles and the like from the 18th and 19th century)

    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 27
      Edit | Reply


      another variation...


    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 25
      Edit | Reply
      Oh, I had forgotten about that!

      But my style would have been recognizable, anyway,
      to the contest sponsors. I enter very few contests,
      mostly the hugenaughty group, where the names
      must be placed on the page to defeat the auto
      anonymouos stage!

      And I always reply to comments, for it would seem
      rude not to reply!

      You were referring to the black and white illustration?
      The original pen line drawing is only altered with the
      reversal and shading in the center circle, thanks to
      tools at photobucket!

      Wow! Nice to hear I "floored" your "senses."
      I appreciate your observations and comments.
      Thank you for the "bravo."

      Nice of you to visit, bigperm.

      M-C

      ( I have some pieces made for Yem a while ago
      that look like bookplate style---re your comment
      on biblical style. Will go look for them.)


  • PerVirtuous
    March 19

    Edit | Reply
    I truly enjoy the multimedia presentation. I also think the poetry stands on its own. I can see by the writing you value truth over comfort. (My avatar is Lenny Bruce's mug shot) Welcome to the tearfilled home of sorrowful joy.


    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 19

      Edit | Reply
      Ahhhhh, Lenny Bruce---it was haunting me, the avatar, familiar
      but not released from the inner memories of my brain!!!!
      Yes, I do appreciate truth. Accepting the welcome!

      M-C

      And now I see a new avatar!


  • arafura gold member
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    Love it! You have a unique style that is wonderful to read and your visual additions are very effective. Excellent!


  • Yemassee gold member
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    Yes, they flavor both the written and the spoken word...but also the visual...how often have we seen people who are very expressive? And we are always drawn to people who smile, or are expressive.

    So yes, dare I say it? Punctuation...punctuates our lives.

    And the graphics are great, adding flavor to the words.

    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 18
      Edit | Reply


    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 17
      Edit | Reply
      As I was writing this, wondering which elements to include,
      I had thought of the example of the "color" commentator
      at the basketball, football, or baseball game, injecting the details,
      the stats, or inside stories, a balance to the highly puctuated
      play by play, each comnentator essentail to the "whole."

      " And we are always drawn to people who smile, or are expressive,"
      he says, with his new smiling avatar in place!!!!!!

      "...adding flavor to the words."
      From salt to cayenne to color---whatever suits the purpose!!

      Thanks for sharing thoughts, Yem,

      M-C






  • Olivias Violin
    March 17

    Edit | Reply

    Good poem for the contest!



    I love your illustrations, especially the first two.

    -----


    "The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web."

    - Pablo Picasso


  • T-Dizzle Mcnizzle
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    An absolutely amazing write! I so agree with these words you have written here. Life would be boring without our expressions as well as the added emphasis in our writing to expand the mind to the little exchanges we offer in our words to convey a more colorful and expansive communication to the reader...

    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 18
      Edit | Reply


    • Aesthete2000 gold member
      March 17
      Edit | Reply
      Thank you. T.

      Right, we know, to hold attention
      it takes more than selected words,
      but the passion, the colorful splash,
      the unexpected touch!

      "...to expand the mind..."
      No fun in fostering complacency!

      M-C


  • Summer52
    March 17
    Edit | Reply
    Well done , Mumsy.
    Good luck!

    summer51

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