Poetry You Actually Like

After my Limericks post, I realized how true it is that people who swear they don't like poetry actually might. Plenty of people enjoy limericks, and that's poetry.

What other poetry masquerades as something fun rather than something you must study for that one stupid unit in English class? For Amaze-ing Words Wednesday, let's look at some children's poets who appeal to kids and grownups alike.

Shel Silverstein

Poet Shel Silverstein authored 12 books. Some of his most popular were A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and The Giving Tree. He wrote about silly stuff but also stuff to which we relate. He described feelings that we all have with words that entertain. For instance, here's the beginning of "Sick" from Where the Sidewalk Ends:




"I cannot go to school today,"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
"I have the measles and the mumps
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry.
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more - that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?"

The poem continues with all of Peggy Ann McKay's reasons for not going to school - which we can relate to as a student or a parent.

Here's a silly one from Shel Silverstein made into a video:

Dr. Seuss
You've heard of him, right? Theodor Geisel, or pen name Dr. Seuss, wrote 47 children's books. I don't know any adults who don't enjoy Dr. Seuss as well. Geisel was great at playing with language, but he also taught some important concepts in his poems. For instance, in Yertle the Turtle, an arrogant turtle king turns his fellow pond dwellers into minions who must serve his desire to gain more and more power. That is, until one particular turtle speaks out on behalf of everyone:

That plain little turtle below in the stack,
That plain little turtle whose name was just Mack
Decided he’d taken enough. And he had.
And that plain little lad got a little bit mad
And that plain little Mack did a plain little thing.
He burped!
And his burp shook the throne of the king.

reprinted from www.seussville.com

It's about a bunch of turtles, but also about equality and fair treatment in society.

My own favorite from Dr. Seuss, however, is Horton Hatches the Egg. Merrie Melodies did a version of the tale in 1942. It's enjoyable to watch, but I'll give you advance notice that it is almost 10 minutes long.

Jack Prelutsky
Jack Prelutsky was the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate, named by the Poetry Foundation in 2006. However, Prelutsky said, "There was a time when I couldn't stand poetry! In grade school, I had a teacher who left me with the impression that poetry was the literary equivalent of liver. I was told that it was good for me, but I wasn't convinced" (from Scholastic). As a young man, he enjoyed drawing and started adding a poem to each of his pictures. Now, he has written more than 50 poetry collections for children. Here's a sample:

Ma! Don't throw that shirt out,
It's my all-time favorite shirt!
I admit it smells peculiar,
and is stained with grease and dirt,
that it's missing half its buttons,
and has got so many holes
that it might have been infested
by a regiment of moles.

Yes! I know that I've outgrown it,
that it's faded and it's torn,
I can see the sleeves are frazzled,
I'm aware the collar's worn,
but I've had that shirt forever,
and I swear that I'll be hurt
if you dare to throw that shirt out --
IT'S MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE SHIRT!

reprinted from www.jackprelutsky.com

I missed Halloween by quite a few days, but here's another, spookier one called The Ghoul:

So what do you think of poetry? Do you enjoy children's poetry? Who are your favorite children's poets or favorite children's poems?

Lining Up at the Movies

What primarily fascinates me about language is how by simply choosing and ordering words, we can convey something meaningful to someone else. That fact is the foundation of speaking and writing. Sometimes, however, what's said moves beyond meaningful and becomes memorable.

On Amaze-ing Words Wednesday, there's probably no better place to consider this than with memorable lines from movies. The best quotations work their way into our collective colloquy and represent concepts or a shared understanding.

Below are my votes for the MOST MEMORABLE lines from movies. (Where I could reasonably determine the specific author of the line, I have cited it.)

“Here's looking at you, kid.” - Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), Casablanca (1942). This line was improvised by Humphrey Bogart. He apparently used it while playing poker in between takes and then brought it to the screen.

“Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.” - Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), Gone with the Wind (1939). The line is often misquoted as having "Scarlett" in it; however, Rhett did not say her name. The line was written by author Margaret Mitchell in the novel without the word “frankly."

“I coulda been a contender.” - Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando), On the Waterfront (1954). The line came from screenwriter Budd Schulberg. Brando certainly was a contender, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for this performance.

“Go ahead, make my day.”- Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood), Sudden Impact (1983), written by Joseph Stinson. This line, along with "Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" from Dirty Harry, are the most memorable from Clint Eastwood.

“I'm ready for my close-up.” - Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), Sunset Boulevard (1950). This is one of my best films ever. Yet, when I hear this line, I still find myself picturing Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman as Desmond and Max. Can anyone relate?

“May the Force be with you.” - General Dodonna (Alex McCrindle) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977) and once in every Star Wars film thereafter, written by George Lucas. Since it was said in every film, we can argue who should be pictured here. It was a toss-up for me between Harrison and Obi-Wan (the younger Ewan McGregor), but I went for the original.

“Show me the money!” - Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), Jerry MacGuire (1996), written by Cameron Crowe. This line is best said jumping up and down like a crazy person. At least, it worked for Gooding; he snagged the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

 

“I'll have what she's having.” - Older Woman Customer (Estelle Reiner),When Harry Met Sally (1989), written by Nora Ephron. If you guessed that it's all in the family, you are correct. Director Rob Reiner gave his mother, Estelle Reiner, perhaps the best line of the film.

“You're gonna need a bigger boat.” - Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), Jaws (1975). Often cited as "We're gonna need a bigger boat," it's actually "you." While I'm sure the writers would love to take credit, this movie line was ad-libbed by Roy Scheider.

“I'll be back.” - Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger), The Terminator (1984), originally written in the script as “I'll come back.” Thus began the inside joke for all of Schwarzenegger's movies going forward, as he repeated this line over and over.

“I see dead people.” - Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), The Sixth Sense (1999), written by M. Night Shyamalan. I don't see dead people, and I haven't seen this movie. All I know is that people keep saying this line.

“I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.” - Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), The Wizard of Oz (1939), written by L. Frank Baum. It was rumored that Shirley Temple and Deanna Durbin were also considered for the part of Dorothy, but Judy Garland was destined to wear ruby red shoes and click them while saying another famous line: "There's no place like home."

Some of my faves are in the list above. However, I have other FAVORITES that may not be as memorable for others.

“Dogs and cats, living together, mass hysteria!” - Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ghostbusters (1984), written by Dan Aykroyd and/or Harold Ramis. This line is apparently what is meant by a disaster of "biblical proportions."

“You can't fight in here! This is the War Room.” - President Merkin Muffley (Peter Seller), Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). Irony of all ironies. I just LOVE this line.

“I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.” - Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Thomas Harris wrote in the original novel, “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a big Amarone.” Do you know what Amarone is? I didn't. It's a red wine . . . you know, like chianti.

“Face it, girls, I'm older and I have more insurance.” - Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), written by Fannie Flagg. Past-40, it's true: You just don't feel like getting pushed around anymore. Towanda, baby!

“The world is full of guys. Be a man. Don't be a guy.” - Corey Flood (Lili Taylor), Say Anything (1989), written by Cameron Crowe. If only all of the high school boys I had dated had listened to Corey Flood. Then again, I found a man to marry, so who cares?

What are some of your favorite movie lines? What memorable lines would you add to my list?

Sources: American Film Institute, Internet Movie Database, AMC Filmsite, Wikipedia (as a starting point; I double-check any information I glean from Wikipedia).

Limericks: There Once Was a Blogger from Texas

It’s another Amaze-ing Words Wednesday with a fun with language post! Who doesn’t love a good limerick?

Leprechauns in the
City of Limerick, Ireland

Limericks are five-lined poems with the aabba rhyme scheme in which the 1st, 2nd, and 5th lines are longer and the 3rd and 4th lines form a rhymed couplet. Although poetry with this meter and rhyme appeared centuries earlier, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that such poems were referred to as limericks.

How they got they got the name limerick is a debated issue. Some suggest that it hails from the tavern song, “Will You Come Up to Limerick?” in which drinkers/drunkards made up their own verses, most with bawdy lyrics. However, Arthur Deex, editor of the Limerick Special Interest Group newsletter, makes a better case that the nonsense poems were adopted by Irish taverns, in particular the ones in the town of Limerick. By the late 1800’s, the name stuck to the poems themselves. (See The Assent of the Limerick.)

Edward Lear is the most famous purveyor of the limerick. His Book of Nonsense published in 1861 included 112 limericks, although he did not use that term. Here are a couple of examples of his children’s poetry in limerick form:

There was a Young Lady whose chin,

Resembled the point of a pin;

So she had it made sharp,

And purchased a harp,

And played several tunes with her chin.

There was an Old Person of Berlin,

Whose form was uncommonly thin;

Till he once, by mistake,

Was mixed up in a cake,

So they baked that Old Man of Berlin.

Lear’s limericks usually began with a person from a place, and that format has been followed by most. (Poor Nantucket.)

Of course, most of us don’t think of children’s poetry when we imagine a limerick. (Once again, poor Nantucket.) Limericks are often a vehicle for suggestive or even offensive poetry (such as the few I found from science fiction author Isaac Asimov). Since I try to keep this blog a mostly PG place, I am going to leave you to hunt down the most shocking limericks yourself if you wish. But here are two examples, the first featuring a military trumpeter:

There was a young bandsman of Dee,

Tried to play with a girl on his knee

But the point of the joke

Is he struck the wrong note

And the wedding’s on Thursday at 3.

There was a young girl named Bianca

Asleep on a ship whilst at anchor,

But awoke with dismay,

When she heard the mate say,

“Let’s hoist up the main sheet and spank her.”

(Source: limericks.org)

Frankly, if you ask most people whether they like poetry, they would say no. But ask if they enjoy a good limerick, and you might get a different response. There is something about the rhythm of the limerick and ease of the beginning “There once was . . .” that endears it to most. It’s easy to hear the beats of the poem and find something interesting to say.

In fact, the limerick lends itself to many topics. I’ll give it a shot:

There once was a storyteller

Who wrote and wrote in her cellar

Though at times it was weary

She sent query after query

And now she's a multi-bestseller

Do you enjoy limericks? Do you know any that you could share without blushing? Can you come up with your own limerick below? Have you ever been to Limerick, Ireland and sung a drinking song in a pub?

Can I Make Up a Word?

I speak of the
pompatus of love.
- "The Joker"



Welcome to Amaze-ing Words Wednesday! There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who believe that Steve Miller is super-cool for making up a word - “pompatus” [of love] - and those who think Steve Miller was being silly.

It would be convenient at times to simply make up your own words. For instance, if you are writing a poem or a song, it might help to invent a word to better rhyme with another word. You might need something to rhyme with "angst" (nothing does).

When attempting to avoid cussing (for whatever reason), it might be nice to call someone a “kerpluk,” which you have personally decided means “you dim-witted, selfish, son of a #!*%*.” (If my mom is reading this, that was "son of a gun.”)

Moreover, you may have discovered some item or concept that has yet to be labeled. After all, what do you call that string of dead bugs which gather between your carpet and baseboard? If it happens often to enough people, maybe someone should invent a word for it.

I think the pompatus of love sounds delightful. I don't know what it means and don't need to (although The Straight Dope has a good article on its origin). The word is just fun to say and to sing.

Made-up words yet to be officially defined or commonly used are neologisms. The Washington Post hosts neologism contests through The Style Invitational. They invite readers to submit invented words based on some concept and parameters (for instance, using foreign words) and then choose winners from among the entries.

Some winners and runners-up of the contest are featured below:

Cogito ergo bum: Sudden realization of graduating philosophy majors.

Fit accompli: When the screaming 2-year-old finally gets the cookie.

Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it’s like, a serious bummer.

Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.

The New York Times also printed a few neologisms in March 2011, including the following words that you might wish to add to your vocabulary:

Centrovert: One who is slightly introvert and slightly extrovert and is thus ideally suited for mediation, negotiation and collaboration.

Disposophobia: A sesquipedalian term for hoarding.

Sheening: To behave like Charlie Sheen – partying, questionable decision making and public humiliation.

Rice University keeps a Neologisms Database (compiled by ENGL215/LING215 students). Here are some of their entries:

Aberzombie: One who wears only clothing from the Abercrombie clothing store and is viewed as lacking in unique personality or independent taste in style.

Pirattitude: To act like a stereotypical pirate, by singing chanties and engaging in other such activities.

Sweaxy: The feeling of having an attractive glow of good health after exercising.

The University of Pennsylvania maintains a website called the Language Log which also notes neologisms as they appear in our language, such as:

Scrobble: To kidnap or capture, such as media that you shouldn't be pirating.

Sportspocalypse. The month packed with sports video game releases; a showdown of licensed sports titles.

Additionally, I hear slang terms all of the time which make no sense to me, so I head over to the Urban Dictionary to look them up. These are words which people have made up or heard and then written their own definition for. Top entries as I write this post include:

Carnevoyeur: A vegetarian who derives satisfaction from watching other people eat meat or hearing about the eating of meat.

Chiptease: When you buy a bag of chips thinking that it will be full of chips, but when you open the bag it's barely full.

Manolescent: A man of any age that shirks adult responsibilities.

Some neologisms have crept into my own vocabulary, such as "staycation” and “cringeworthy.” Yet I want to invent my own word. Something filled with meaning, beneficial to humankind, and lasting in its impact (Shakespeare coined words, you know). Living with three guys (hubby and two sons), I believe I've come up with a few good ones:

Legonavigate: To pick out a path and walk around Legos strewn across the floor in an effort to keep from stepping on those building blocks and cursing the Danish. “I had to Legonavigate his room to reach the dresser.”

Pyrecreation: Setting things on fire – such as paper, twigs, crackers, Cheetos, etc. - for recreational amusement. “Our sons are engaged in pyrecreation with the fire pit on the back porch.”

Spocktacular: A statement or action revealing the overly analytical nature of a person such that they should be compared to the Star Trek Vulcan. “Dude, that was Spocktacular!”

So what do you think? Which of the above neologisms do you like? What neologisms can you offer? Have you heard any great ones lately?

A Lesson with Miss Pronunciation

"Listen up, class."
-Miss Pronunciation

It's time for AMAZE-ing Words Wednesday! Today’s word lesson will be taught by renowned language arts instructor, Miss Pronunciation. Miss Pronunciation will present the incorrect and correct ways of articulating some commonly mispronounced words in the English language. Without further ado, I hand our virtual classroom over to Miss Pronunciation.

AUTHOR

Arthur is a lovable aardvark featured in children’s books by Marc Brown and the PBS series of the same name and/or Dudley’s Moore drunken character from the movie Arthur (1981) which co-starred Liza Minnelli and gave John Gielgud a Supporting Actor Oscar. An author writes books. Please do not confuse the two.

ASK

An axe is a tool wielded for cutting down trees or butchering family members (e.g., Lizzie Borden). To ask is to inquire, query, request information.

ATHLETE

An ath-a-lete does not exist. Unfortunately, the additional syllable is often added by those simply unaware of the proper two-syllable version, athlete, or by such athletes who have been knocked in the head too many times.

ET CETERA

I believe that Excetera, or Ekcetera, is Superhero Elektra’s younger sister whose ninja skills didn’t quite make the cut to get her own comic line. Et cetera, pronounced [et set-er-uh], is the Latin phrase meaning “and so on” and is used to indicate more items in a list without naming them specifically.

Pic from Kevin at deviantart.com

IDEA

An ideal is a standard of perfection or excellence, while an idea is a notion or thought which pops into your mind like that light bulb above the cartoon character's head. What would be ideal is for people to pronounce idea without the added “l” since it is rather unnecessary and somewhat confusing.

LIBRARY

Libary is the command given to your dog Barry when you wish him to play dead for the amusement of your neighbors. A library (note the "r") is a public institution which collects and loans out books to residents who go the trouble of procuring a library card.

New York Public Library

MISCHIEVOUS

Mischievous is a word almost no one knows how to say. However, it does not have an ē sound anywhere in the word (no mischievEEous). Those who mispronounce it demonstrate a mischievousness all their own. Personally, Miss Pronunciation believes that the problem could easily be avoided by changing the spelling of this word altogether to mischuhvus.

PICTURE

A pitcher is what one uses to pour liquids into cups and glasses, as in “Bring me and my buddies another pitcher of beer!” If, however, you have too many pitchers, you and your friends will not be a pretty picture for long. Not only will your speech slur such that you can no longer get a “k” sound in before the “ch,” but nearby tables will ask you to leave or call the cab for you. (Drink responsibly. Or not at all.)

Johannes Vermeer's The Milkmaid
A piCture with a piTcher

SPECIFIC

The Pacific is an ocean or the region of islands in that ocean. Specific is something identifiable and particular. You may wish to be more specific in using this word by making sure that you include the requisite “s."

SUPPOSEDLY

If the good-looking guy across the hall asks whether you get ESPN because he wants to watch the game at your place, do not answer “Supposably I do.” That will be the last “I do” you say to him if he possesses pronunciation skills. In fact, he will supposedly find another young lady in the apartment building whose couch is comfortable and whose speech is clear. “Oh well,” you say, “I didn’t want a sports-obsessed couch potato anyway!” Perhaps, but you might want to shift that “b” to a “d” just in case the guy you adore wants to know if the Caribbean cruise passes through Acapulco, to which you would say, “Supposedly” as you pack your carry-on to join him.

Miss Pronunciation thanks you for your attention and hopes that this lesson has been enlightening and entertaining.

What other words have you heard mispronounced? Do you struggle with certain word pronunciations yourself? (Undoubtably Undoubtedly, it can be hard to break a habit!)

The Breast Way to Describe It

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! This is a cause close to my heart. In honor of the fight against breast cancer, both of my posts this week will address it.

Today, though, is AMAZE-ing Words Wednesday, when I feature something fun or interesting about language. The first time I participated in a Race for the Cure in 2004, I was amazed by the creativity in team names and t-shirts. Those mammary glands have a LOT of different words to describe them. With so many possibilities, people go a little crazy with the attire and t-shirts worn to breast cancer awareness events.

Before sharing some, I know that some people feel that humorous slogans trivialize the threat and pain of this disease. Having known several people who have been through breast cancer, I have seen that a sense of humor in the face of hardship can be helpful for getting through. I appreciate how we can use language to cheer ourselves up even in the worst of times.

So without further ado, here are some clever team names from this year's Houston walk:

Bad Mamma(ry) Jammas

Bonkers for Honkers

Boobie Brigade

Bosom Buddies

Breast Friends Forever

Chemo Sabes

Cowgirls Kickin' Cancer

Fight Like a Girl

For the Girls!

Good Better Breast

Hakuna Ma Tata

Heal the hOOters

Hugs for Jugs

Mommies for Mammaries

Pairatroopers

Peek a Boobies

Pink Ladies

Pretty in Pink

The Rack Pack

Rock Your Rack

Rockers for Knockers

Save the TaTas

Stop the War in My Rack

Team Twin Peaks

Thanks for the Mammaries

The Boobie Bunch

Treasure Chests

Victorious Secret

I've also seen some funny t-shirts as well. The one a young lady was wearing this year that caught our eye was:

No, They're Not Real
(the real ones tried to kill me)
Available from CafePress.com

Note to my lady friends: Be sure to perform self-exams and get mammograms regularly, as early detection is key to saving lives and fighting this battle.

Have you ever participated in a charity with a team? Did you come up with a team name? What was it? What other interesting team names or t-shirts have you seen?