Free write today. Cut these up, pick one and start writing.
Black Cascade
The Lonely Ones
Everyday Demons
Burn Halo
Before The Flood
Hills And Valleys
King Baby
Serpent Servant
Quiet Nights
Living Thing
You Are Here
Defy Gravity
Tomorrow begins National Poetry month :-)
What do you find inside?
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Instructions of what to write are hidden next to the dots below. Do one step at a time to release you from concern about where a piece might be headed. You’re not concerned about story. You’re just doing one step at a time.
So don’t peek ahead! Highlight the text beyond the dot one line at a time (the last instruction is long so is actually two lines). (If for some reason that doesn’t reveal the text, just copy and paste one line at a time into your document and change the color to black.)
The slide show is from Guido Danielle. There are more examples at his website.
Limericks are 5 lines, with an aabba rhyme.The limerick packs laughs anatomical
Into space that is quite economical.
But the good ones I’ve seen
Hardly ever are clean
And the clean ones so seldom are comical. — Anonymous
The rhythm is easy to catch once you’ve read plenty of good limericks. (There is a clear and succinct description below, though.) The Limerick Data Base has a big collection where submitted limericks are scrutinized for meter.
So on this great day for Saint Patrick,
Whip out your computer and write quick.
Tap out some fierce verse.
Though beat be adverse
It all can be cleaned with a mouse click.
In 1924, a series of responses to the famous (clean ;-) Nantucket limerick appeared in various newspapers. Those are preserved at Yesterday’s Island and new ones have been added to continue the saga. Here’s the original four:
There once was a man from Nantucket,
Who kept all of his cash in a bucket,
But his daughter, named Nan,
Ran away with a man,
And as for the bucket, Nantucket.
—Princeton TigerBut he followed the pair to Pawtucket,
The man and the girl with the bucket;
And he said to the man,
He was welcome to Nan,
But as for the bucket, Pawtucket.
—Chicago TribuneThen the pair followed Pa to Manhasset,
Where he still held the cash as an asset,
But Nan and the man
Stole the money and ran,
And as for the bucket, Manhasset.
—ExchangeOf this story we hear from Nantucket,
About the mysterious loss of a bucket,
We are sorry for Nan,
As well as the man—
The cash and the bucket, Pawtucket.
—Pawtucket Times
Dylon Mirti wrote 10/10/95
I don’t know if you’re the authority
That will impart the absolute truth to me
But I’m not really sure
Just what is the structure
Of the limericks I’m slaughtering brutally.Is it just 8 8 5 5 8
Or is it 8 8 6 6 8
Can syllables be crammed
And more than eight be jammed
To keep the meter read at the same gait?My girlfriend and I can’t tell
What makes these little rhymes swell
Please write me back
And teach me the knack
Of writing a limerick well!
What I really need to know is whether or not syllable cramming is allowed, or whether the exact number of syllables MUST equal the assigned number for the line. And, is there an exact number of syllables assigned for each line?
Thanks for your time.
======
Dylon, of course, gets a gold star for this well-written request.
For expediency, Toast Point did not phrase his reply in limerick form, but it covered the bases nonetheless:
The number of syllables is not as important as the beat pattern:
da DA-da-da DA-da-da DA-(da) (da)
da DA-da-da DA-da-da DA (da) (da)
da DA-da-da DA (da)
da DA-da-da DA (da)
da DA-da-da DA-da-da DA (da) (da)
Meaning that you can leave off the syllables in parentheses, but 1,2 and 5 should match each other, and 3 and 4 should match.
For instance:
There ONCE was a GIRL from nanTUCKet - leaves off the final (da)
A MAIDen whose NAME was feLIcity - uses all of them
It’s more important that the STRESSES of the word be on the strong beats than to have exactly the right number of syllables.
But, anyway, here’s the results with catchy succinct definitions that are more likely to stick with you than standard definitions :-) (Though, admittedly, the opportunity to use the words won’t crop up too often ;-)
Last week’s contest to define the words in 15 letters generated tremendous enthusiasm. Many teachers discussed the contest in their classes and shared definitions from their students. More than 2000 readers sent one or more entries filled with creativity, humor, and lateral thinking.
It wasn’t easy to select the winners from so many outstanding suggestions. Listed below are the winning entries which have each gained an autographed copy of one of my books.
Winner:
An idea alluded to. -Karyl Davis (karyl.davis lackland.af.mil)
Honorable mentions:
Winner:
To see life flit by. -Julie Paschkis (jpaschkis comcast.net)
Honorable mentions:
Winner:
2nd rate math geek. -Greg Foster (lokesman gmail.com)
Honorable mentions:
Winner:
Digital printout. -Judith Bill (jgb22 comcast.net)
Honorable mention:
I had not asked for 15-letter definitions for Monday’s word, but some readers sent them nonetheless. Here are a few selections:
Do you ever wonder:
Consultations can be face to face with you, face to muzzle with your pet, through a photograph or artifact when a corporeal form might be too difficult to produce. All provide portals to your animal’s spirit.
I also offer counseling by phone, on line, email, fax, text, IM. When I speak about your pet to you remotely, I am linked psychically through your pet’s name, like a radio frequency I can tune into.
Last week you destroyed the local bad guy who held your village in fear for the past year. (The bad guy can be an evil wizard, thug, alien invader, dragon, whatever you wish. You can be a good wizard, fighter, clever strategist, ninja, again whatever you wish.)
You’ve received accolades, a parade, free drinks, a feast, letters of thanks. Today you received your first actual fan letter. As you read the gushing praise, it becomes increasingly disturbing. This person is obsessed with you. They may be more dangerous to you than the bad guy.
Write the fan letter.
Jack, of the beanstalk fame, has been charged with breaking and entering, larceny, and first degree murder.
Choose from one of two points of view:
As Jack’s lawyer, present Jack’s case on why the charges should be dropped. Argue from a legal standpoint rather than an emotional one. Being a big mean giant — from Jack’s point of view! — will not stand up in court.
Or, as a reporter covering the trial, describe each character’s view of the crime as it unfolds in court.
Shake up your imagination. The cat edition uses cat breeds instead of streets, kitty favorites (mouse, catnip, fishbowl) for the Chance, toys (yarn, box, scratching post, paperbag) for Utilities. The Coke edition has pewter Coke bottles and truck.
Some large images of Monopoly boards:
Here and Now: World Edition
Googlopoly
United Kingdom
Beatles
Cat lovers
Star Blazers
Lostopoly
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