Poems that rhyme

I have been reading about Lord Byron, because he is so often mentioned in some of the movies I watch, and I was feeling a bit unenlightened. He is often described this way:

“He is regarded as one of the greatest British poets and remains widely read and influential.”

When I read that, I really felt I had missed something. Then I was surprised to find that his poems rhyme. Well, it has always been my opinion that poems that rhyme are a bit adolescent. 
Here's an example of Byron’s poems: "She Walks in Beauty"

While doing research for this article, I came across this site
and realized how ignorant I was on the subject of poetry: Types of Poetry

In my defense, I have never claimed to know all about poetry, only that I prefer to write... 
poems that don’t rhyme ... for this I hope I will not be asked to do time. 
Then fear of fears ... I learnt from my wife of many years -- 
for whom I have written poems of any number 
some of which were very clever 
but none of which have rhymed... 
poems that rhyme are what she prefers!

I was letting all this sink in while I listening to Anna Graceman sing "Give Me Your Heart" on Youtube in which she has a line about various fairy tales, and I was reminded of a song I had rolling around in my mind from a long time ago... mine had a reference to Little Boy Blue. Anyway, I decided, after hearing Anna’s song, to write a poem that rhymes dedicated to my sweet wife:

Cinderella, Snow White, and Romeo and Juliet
They all found love to be it
The story was not always easy
Sometimes the story turned out awfully
Like it did for Romeo and Juliet
But they found love to be it.

Love is not a bedtime story
It doesn’t always make you rest calmly
Love can be like a fire in your bones
Raising you up as if you were on a throne
Like Romeo and Juliet
We can find that love is it.

Noe

copyright ©2012

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The right magic

Describing the Sarah’s World books, I have said: “The stories are not filled with witches, swords, magicians and such, but are written in the belief that children are intelligent and can find enjoyment and interest in the real world just being kids.” In saying this, I was not suggesting that I am against children’s stories containing make-believe with talking animals and such things. Make-believe really is different than magic, although it can be called "magic" in a sense, and that's okay. In fact, I have made up more than a few stories like that, with my niece being the main character. I haven’t published them yet, but do intend to, although none of my stories will have witches or sorcery, since I feel those subjects are not entertaining.

Years ago when my niece was young, Cindy and I recorded a few of these stories on audio cassette, with Cindy playing the part of my niece and I voiced all the other parts. We even included our cat Shem in one of the stories -- Cindy had to squeeze him to get him to say his part on que! This is not really a picture of Shem, but he looked just like this guy... we really loved him, he was so smart. He would even play hide-and-seek with Cindy! Everyone should have a Maine Coon cat:

Sadly, it was so long ago that the tape of our stories for my niece no longer exists, but those were some real "magic" adventures with singing animals and a faraway island. It was a fun project for us to do, and my niece loved listening to it over and over. It's a great gift idea for aunts and uncles or parents to make for a young person in their life. 

I am presently working on a larger story for Sarah’s World, and when I’m finished with that one, hopefully you will see some of these other stories published.

Take a look at the books in Cindy’s book store for some nice stories for little ones and older kids too. (See the Kids Books and Great Reads pages)

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Cartoon: Fred and Ted 2

Noe

copyright ©2012

More of Fred and Ted --
Fred and Ted 1

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Responsibility ... post three on Jane Austen books

Something I really like about Jane Austen's writings

In my previous post, I hit upon some things that I consider odd about the England of Jane Austen’s time. Today I’d like to mention something I truly appreciate about her time that we don’t often find in ours ... a sense of responsibility, for both the immediate and extended family as well as for the community.

Briefly, here are a few instances I’m referring to:

In Pride and Prejudice, the Gardiners often extend hospitality toward their nieces by inviting them to come to their home and by taking them on their travels. Even more so, they really put themselves out when their youngest niece gets herself into trouble.

In Mansfield Park, Fanny’s aunt and uncle help her brother in procuring a position as a sailor and then take her into their home to alleviate some of the financial burdens of her parents (they later take another of her sisters as well).

In Sense and Sensibility, even though her stepson and his family don’t help her, Mrs. Dashwood is offered a small house “belonging to a relation of her own, a gentleman of consequence and property... He understood that she was in need of a dwelling, and though the house he now offered her was merely a cottage, he assured her that every thing should be done to it which she might think necessary, if the situation pleased her.”

As we know from the book bearing her name, Emma Woodhouse is concerned with the less fortunate and makes a regular habit of visiting them, always with something for their welfare.

Many more instances could be offered, but for those who enjoy reading a story well-written, without licentious behavior being described, and honorable characters displaying both their strengths and weaknesses, a person could hardly do better than picking up something Jane wrote.
~ Noe

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Odd to me... second post on Jane Austen books

Getting this out of my system first

I will not attempt to rate the novels of Jane Austen as if I could say one is better than another. Obviously, I may like one more than another, but it would be over-reaching, as far as I’m concerned, to say my opinion actually means one is better than the rest. I have read Pride and Prejudice more than all the others; I read it once a year, in fact, and am therefore more familiar with it. I have read Persuasion several times, followed by Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park.

What I want to do in this post is mention some things that have always struck me as odd about the British and, of course, these are just my own views. One that is often portrayed in Austen’s books is that they marry their cousins or are arranged to be married to their cousins. I don’t know if that is something that was done by the upper class only, or if all people did that. Is it even still a practice today?

Another thing, the man is usually much older than the girl he marries, and she is usually quite young herself. I have often wondered, is that why they do not show affection openly? That’s another one of those things I don’t understand about the British, it's as if they feel it is wrong to show affection to their families. Yet they resort to having extra-marital affairs ... at least, that's the way it is in movies. Jane Austen doesn't have much of that sort of thing in her novels.

One more thing, though, is how strongly they are shown to observe class distinctions: the way a person of rank, as they say, is not even to be addressed by someone lower in their eyes. I would think that’s in the past now, but perhaps not. I do wonder what Miss Austen thought of all that.

Anyway, criticising those things is not my purpose here, but I am attempting to get all the strangeness I see out of the way before considering other aspects of Jane Austen's books, as they are some of my favorites to read.

~ Noe

Jane Austen books

COMPARE

This is the first in a series of posts on Jane Austen and her works that I want to do. Austen's books are a favorite part of my library, as are the movies that have been made on them. It is really too bad she died so young and was prevented from giving us what she would have created later. 

One of the aspects of her writing that I find so appealing is her focus on the characters’ thoughts and feelings with an economy of words. She has a comical cleverness that rivals Oscar Wilde, and a sense for the dramatic coupled with a flare for suspense. For instance, in each of her works she builds a series of let-downs and obstacles for the characters without being corny or cliche, even though if she would have come up with something way back in her time it wouldn’t have been cliche; and the fact that today the stories are still fresh and interesting to read is a credit to her.

For comparison’s sake, to be sure, the stories of Jane are not as intricate as those of Charles Dickens, but then they were writing about two different worlds. Dickens brought the lowest and poorest of London society across the path of the class of society Austen wrote about. In the world according to Jane, one would never know such a place as the slums of London with its low individuals even existed because she didn’t write about that like Dickens did. Consequently, Austen’s books keep a light, lively feel, even when the characters are reduced to comparative poverty. Perhaps it is this aspect of her books I like most; one can read about triumph through adversity without getting "dirty" like you do when you read Dickens.

Jane Austen's notable books (no particular order):
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Persuasion
Sense and Sensibility
Northanger Abbey
Mansfield Park

~ Noe

Original poem: Words of the Heart

          Words of the heart...
          How they long to be heard.
          By the eyes and what they express;
          By the touch and what it means.
          Can I utter speech that could convey?
          A third of my life is made of you!

          Words of the heart...
          By time alone can they be heard.
          By the way love for you still grows;
          By the way I am forever yours.
          Can I utter speech that could convey?
          The way I feel this tenth anniversary day.

          I love you.

Noe
copyright ©1987
written for my wife for our 10th anniversary 

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