05.13.08
Posted in The Arts Today at 1:24 pm by admin
I think most people writing poetry or writing about poetry, has their own concept of what should be, what shouldn’t be, what is, what is not: you know, our own little world of poetry. Not sure if any of us are right: we think we are, but whose standards are we going by? So I shall give you my propose and if it doesn’t fit into your box, burn it: your’ may be better anyhow.
When I use to read a poem, and I assume when many people do read a poem, and when I do read a poem myself, nowadays, besides my own, I, like most people want to know what the heck it means. As I have stated before in other poetry articles, and as I believe it should be, each poem is mini-story unto itself. With that in mind, we shift to the word, “Paraphrase,” or I can live with ’substance,’ of the poem: again I am saying: the purpose of the story, what is the purpose of the story in the poem? You see, we flip back to step one. As I have told my wife many times, as she questions my poetry, she says: “Why this?” And I say “For effect.” And she says: “What~!” and I say, “See I got an effect from you.” Like any story you read, you are lookingI would think, for its effect, its outcome, what does it produce. If you were to read, “In Cold Blood,” by Mr. Truman Capote, the effect would be, or the result may be: stunning, for he book is one big upshot of wonderment. Poetry should do the same, or its aim should be the same, so I believe.
So now we got a poem, it is a story, and we are looking for its purpose within its given effect on our body and minds, which is called ‘paraphrase,’ now lets take this one more step, one more level, if you don’t’ mind. We have read the poem three times, and now we have interpreted it to how it has affected us. Our flesh, or organs and our mind, is jumping, our bones are being melted, or we are frustrated, and say: hell with the poem, I get only irritation out of it. Perhaps you can extract some meaning from the lines that hit home, and perhaps the poem is crap to start out with, so go find a poet you like. To the poet, he should have an aim with his poem; know where he wants to take his reader. It is like most things in life, why waste your breathe the readers time, if there is no reason behind it; nothing gives anything, breeds the same: nothing.
Now I will give you a poem (look for the effect it has on you, name it):
To Too Much
I have had way too much,
To too long, way too long,
To know that that I’m way
Too old to admit my ‘twos’
Are wrong.
I asked a person what effect they got out of this: “I wondered why the writer was so tired.” Is what the person said. Now for you, what did you get? What did the author want? To perhaps see if twos [to, too, twos] can make a stanza, isolated the framework of the poem into a spell, hopefully, out comes the prose meaning: the person is old and is tired, very tired. If the poems were to continue, it would result in you knowing, or the person knowing who read the poem, more of the person who is tired, and perhaps you can identify with it, and why he or she was tired could make a difference.
In one way, it is nice to read poetry, it is quick, it is condensed, and it is the top of the line as far as writing goes: and a story of 10,000-works can be put into 10-stanzas. It draws out our emotions, or can and should: and should be of the best man has in his mind and heart to offer. And again, don’t take any of this personal, it is just my opinion, no more than that, and again, perhaps your reasoning is better than mine. So take it for what it is worth, and enjoy it.
See Dennis’ website on travels and his books at: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com
Permalink
04.27.08
Posted in The Arts Today at 9:10 am by admin
There are plenty of fun ways that you can craft your way into the 4th of July. If you are looking for some great Independence Day craft ideas, we have some for you. But, before you look at those options, all you have to do to come up with your own is to think about the day, the reason for the day, the colors and the fun it will offer. There are plenty of things that you can do to make this day truly amazing. If you are ready to celebrate, here are a few craft ideas to take into consideration. You can find full details on how to make them throughout the web or use your own creativity.
The Pinwheel. Nothing shouts Happy 4th like the pinwheel. TO make them, simple fold a piece of paper into a star shape. You will want to create a center section that will allow you to place a push pin through it. Have the kids color the paper red, white and blue before they begin folding. You’ll need to squares to work with. Place the two sheets together. Then, cut the first sheet from the corners towards the middle about half way. Fold the corners to the middle, secure with push pin around a pencil at the back.
Flags. Flags are the most traditional of ways to celebrate the 4th. For a simple design, have your child color a picture of the flag on a piece of paper. Then, attach one side of the flag to popsicle sticks for a pole and they have a great looking flag to wave!
Stars. Another great way to show your pride is with stars. Here have each child decorate paper stars on the front and the back in a wide range of designs. Anything goes! Red, white and blue work best. Then, place a small hole through the top of each and string them together. You can hang at your 4th of July celebration for a great way to celebrate. It makes a great decoration for around the table too.
You can find lots of fun craft projects for the 4th of July. In fact, you can make it a history lesson with a few great fact sheets, coloring sheets about the Founding Fathers and a wide range of other things. One thing is for sure. You will want the kids to enjoy themselves. Just getting out the red, white and blue finger paint and letting them go at it is enough to make this a very special celebration of the 4th of July!
Nicola always enjoys celebrating Independence Day. She can help you salute Old Glory in style with 4th of July party tips and news, information and views at http://independence-day.your-holiday.info
This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Your-Holiday.info
|
|
Permalink
04.06.08
Posted in The Arts Today at 1:45 am by admin
I wanted to set out some basic knitting instructions as a refresher so here it is. All knitting instructions use basically two stitches, the knit stitch and the purl stitch. Once you know these two knitting essentials you will be able to follow most knitting instructions which are just combinations or variations of these two stitches.
Knitting Instructions for the Knit Stitch
Once you have cast on, hold the knitting needle with the cast on stitches in your left hand. Push the point of the right knitting needle in between the front of the first and second stitches, pointing the knitting needle to the right to feed the point through the first stitch keeping it under the left needle. The knitting yarn should be at the back of the work. Loop the knitting yarn around the right knitting needle from back to front, letting the knitting yarn rest between the needles. Catch the knitting yarn on the end on the right knitting needle and pull it through the first stitch to the front of the work. Slip the old stitch off the left needle. The new stitch is now on the right needle. Now you are getting the hang of the knitting instructions. It is a good idea to keep the knitting yarn draped over the right forefinger, this keeps it to the back of the work too. Repeat this process until all stitches are on the right knitting needle. Now count the stitches, if they are all there, turn the right knitting needle around and put it in the left hand. This is the first row from your knitting instructions. The knitting yarn will look like it is at the front and you will now take it to the back and start the second row of transferring stitches to the empty right needle.
Knitting Instructions for the Purl Stitch
The Purl stitch will also be in any knitting instructions. Start with the knitting needle with the cast on stitches in your left hand. Your knitting yarn will be hanging in front. Push point of right knitting needle into the front of the first stitch from right to left. Wrap the knitting yarn around the tip of the right knitting needle, crossing over the two needles and hanging once again in front. Slide the right knitting needle down and back taking the new loop of knitting yarn from front to back, through the old stitch. Slip the old stitch off the left knitting needle. If you have followed the knitting instructions you now have a stitch in purl on the right knitting needle and the yarn is hanging, once again, in the front. Repeat this process until all stitches are on the right knitting needle. Now count the stitches to make sure you haven’t dropped any and turn the work around putting the knitting needle with the stitches on in your left hand to start the next row.
I hope you could follow my basic knitting instructions. I have a lot more information about knitting on my Knitting Instructions blog so please join me there to learn more.
Louise’s blogs helps people who love knitting and teaching people how to knit. Please visit her blog at Knitting Instructions
Permalink
