« On Running After One's Hat | Main | Your own Personal Powers of Ten »

Words, the fabric of life

We lead our lives in a constant swirl of words. They come at us from all directions, from every medium, from the moment we rise until we fall back asleep. Even when we think we're alone, words are with us -- they are how we think.

Due to the sheer volume of words in our lives, and the urgency with which we often communicate, the words around us are often of poor quality. They may get the job of communicating done, but they don't do it gracefully, effortlessly, inspiringly. They're flat and endless.

But to our rescue comes poetry. This remarkable form is all about economy of effort. A poem is exactly as long as it needs to be. No word is without meaning; each one was carefully selected, and no other can substitute. A good poem can be a refuge from the daily fury of words.

One of the best ways to enrich your life is to find a poem that you love and memorize it. It doesn't have to be dramatic, it doesn't have to be deep, and it doesn't have to be from Shakespeare. Just look for one that has meaning for you. For example, here is one of my favorites:

This Is Just to Say
by William Carlos Williams
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

What makes this poetry at all, and not just a note left on a refrigerator? It's the choice of words, the placement of words, and they way they're broken up. There are layers of possibilities. But this is my poem -- get your own!

A great place to start is the Favorite Poem Project, started by former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, where Americans from all walks of life talk about the poems in their lives. Poke around, read the poems, and watch some of the video interviews. They'll inspire you to find a favorite poem of your own.

Posted by michael on January 24, 2006 09:50 AM |

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.unnumb.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/30

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Words, the fabric of life:

» male erotic story from male erotic story
[Read More]

Tracked on April 23, 2007 12:24 PM

» photo homme gay nue from photo homme gay nue
[Read More]

Tracked on April 23, 2007 08:30 PM

» stories forced crossdressing from stories forced crossdressing
[Read More]

Tracked on April 24, 2007 05:36 AM

» Norvasc from Norvasc
This development phase can take up to 3 years typically and Norvasc e [Read More]

Tracked on March 17, 2008 08:17 AM

» Ringtones With Words from Ringtones With Words
electronic ringtones carrier The US opirators Additionally, UMTS Ring tones and graphics for [Read More]

Tracked on March 30, 2008 01:19 AM

» Verizon Wallpapers from Verizon Wallpapers
Wallpapers Style your phone with cool graphics. Verizon Wireless offers cell phones, [Read More]

Tracked on April 10, 2008 05:36 AM

» Discount Singulair from Discount Singulair
has been a part of medical Discount Singulair and medicines to Discount Sing [Read More]

Tracked on April 17, 2008 05:15 PM

» Ringtones With Words from Ringtones With Words
Looking for ringtones wholesale, ringtones with no subscriptions, ringtones with words in it. [Read More]

Tracked on April 30, 2008 03:22 AM

Comments

Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! xeggssubqozr

Posted by: btczkbogdc | August 22, 2007 04:57 AM

sahbrxcq sqvikhlfg ipno dpbnwoqe rnwsz cexpm pcjyvrhs

Posted by: bxtzvuh egjby | December 2, 2007 02:53 PM

tmkfjqx ythjsapg hfpusxz pqxh asirxjq vjuda mikge kefb zmds

Posted by: fjgdm pfvuxgc | December 2, 2007 02:54 PM

Nice site. Thanks!!!
christmas carols

Posted by: christmas carols | December 9, 2007 08:00 PM

Nice site. Thanks!!!
christmas carols

Posted by: christmas carols | December 9, 2007 08:00 PM

Good site. Thank you:-)
christmas gifts

Posted by: christmas gifts | December 10, 2007 01:33 AM

Good site. Thank you:-)
christmas gifts

Posted by: christmas gifts | December 10, 2007 01:34 AM

Nice site. Thanks:-)
kids uggs

Posted by: ugg boots | December 14, 2007 10:26 PM

Nice site. Thanks:-)
kids uggs

Posted by: ugg boots | December 14, 2007 10:26 PM

Very good site. Thank you.
designer handbags

Posted by: designer handbags | December 17, 2007 06:08 PM

Very good site. Thank you.
free walmart coupons

Posted by: free walmart coupons | December 17, 2007 11:11 PM

Good site. Thanks:-)
personal loans

Posted by: personal loans | December 25, 2007 07:04 PM

Good site. Thanks:-)
personal loans

Posted by: personal loans | December 25, 2007 07:04 PM

Cool site. Thank you.
hydrocodone

Posted by: hydrocodone | December 26, 2007 04:28 PM

Nice site. Thank you!!!
valium

Posted by: valium | December 27, 2007 05:18 AM

Very good site. Thank you!
womens perfumes

Posted by: womens perfumes | December 27, 2007 10:03 AM

Very good site. Thank you!
womens perfumes

Posted by: womens perfumes | December 27, 2007 10:03 AM

Very good site. Thank you.
womens perfumes

Posted by: womens perfumes | December 27, 2007 10:09 AM

Very good site. Thank you.
womens perfumes

Posted by: womens perfumes | December 27, 2007 10:09 AM

Cool site. Thanks!!!
lucy pinder

Posted by: lucy pinder nude | January 2, 2008 04:29 AM

Cool site. Thanks!!!
lucy pinder

Posted by: lucy pinder | January 2, 2008 04:42 AM

Cool site. Thanks!!!
lucy pinder

Posted by: lucy pinder | January 2, 2008 04:43 AM

Cool site. Thanks!!!
lucy pinder

Posted by: lucy pinder | January 2, 2008 04:43 AM

Very good site. Thank you:-)
lucy pinder naked

Posted by: lucy pinder naked | January 2, 2008 05:12 AM

Good site. Thanks.
kim kardashian

Posted by: kim kardashian | January 2, 2008 06:28 AM

Nice site. Thank you!!!
jessica alba

Posted by: jessica alba naked | January 2, 2008 10:03 AM

Cool site. Thanks!!!
hilary duff

Posted by: hilary duff naked | January 2, 2008 03:30 PM

Cool site. Thanks!!!
hilary duff

Posted by: hilary duff naked | January 2, 2008 03:31 PM

Very good site. Thank you.
giikewa

Posted by: zoey zane saakk | January 9, 2008 10:27 PM

Very good site. Thank you.
giikewa

Posted by: zoey zane saakk | January 9, 2008 10:29 PM

Nice site. Thank you!!!
buyweepo

Posted by: buyweepo | January 9, 2008 11:30 PM

Nice site. Thanks!!!
jesaaolppi

Posted by: jesaaolppi | January 10, 2008 12:42 AM

Cool site. Thank you.
doolrenf

Posted by: hannah montana kissayytn | January 10, 2008 02:39 AM

Cool site. Thank you.
doolrenf

Posted by: hannah montana kissayytn | January 10, 2008 02:39 AM

Cool site. Thank you!
raven riley naked

Posted by: hesolpn | January 10, 2008 03:21 AM

Cool site. Thank you!
raven riley naked

Posted by: hesolpn | January 10, 2008 03:22 AM

Nice site. Thanks!
ashley tisdale

Posted by: sokregikd | January 10, 2008 03:46 AM

Nice site. Thanks!
ashley tisdale

Posted by: sokregikd | January 10, 2008 03:47 AM

Good site. Thank you.
ashley tisdale

Posted by: sokregikd | January 10, 2008 04:37 AM

Nice site. Thank you:-)
miley cyrus naked

Posted by: gredolfg | January 10, 2008 05:45 AM

Very good site. Thanks!
jennifer love hewitt

Posted by: fdsedimm | January 10, 2008 06:16 AM

Very good site. Thanks!
deaajdgo

Posted by: deaajdgo | January 14, 2008 01:02 PM

Cool site. Thanks!
jc penney

Posted by: jc penney | January 17, 2008 08:08 PM

Very good site. Thanks:-)
verizon ringtones

Posted by: verizon ringtones | February 7, 2008 08:04 PM

Nice site. Thank you!!
verizon ringtones

Posted by: verizon ringtones | February 7, 2008 08:41 PM

Very good site. Thank you!!
hydroc430odone

Posted by: hydroc430odone | February 7, 2008 09:49 PM

Very good site. Thanks.
hydroc430odone

Posted by: hydroc430odone | February 7, 2008 10:50 PM

Useful site. Thank you:-)
ephedrine kmm8

Posted by: buy ephedrine | February 8, 2008 01:38 AM

Useful site. Thank you.
buy ephedrine

Posted by: buy ephedrine | February 8, 2008 02:25 AM

Nice site. Thank you:-)
valtrex

Posted by: valtrex | February 8, 2008 03:46 AM

Useful site. Thank you!