Mrs Metaphor

I’ve been thinking today about writing. I’ve been thinking quite a lot about it.  I thought about it rather well. When the time came to actually put something down on what Luci Shaw referred to this weekend as the “democratic white page” I faltered. My fingers fumbled. Keystroke-like movements started and stopped.  I thought about the look of the dogwood trees blooming and could not come up with words to describe them with any honor large enough. This went on for most of the day and into the evening.  

I thought about the sound of the quiet, interrupted only by the uneven tapping on the keyboard when an idea came then followed quickly by the rhythm of the backspace key beating time with measured regularity.

It seemed so much more certain of it’s job.

At last all I am left with is the astounding realization and perhaps the appreciation finally, of the unfinished things.

that’s all.

A few days ago someone googled, “metaphor for kissing” and found me.  I have no idea which post they found, probably it was “The Holy Kiss” but who knows.  That got me to thinking though about kissing as metaphor and metaphors for kissing and of course that led me to thinking about the assignment I shall give this week while I’m at the Festival of Faith and Writing visiting my poet crush, Scott Cairns and soaking in the smell and feel of the written word.

So in light of that, it’s that time again…How long did you think it would take for us to roll around to the use of “euphemism” in our studies?  Ok, ok…I know you are all excited about this one but let’s take a moment and just explore this a bit, shall we?  

Some of us, when we think of the word, “euphemism” perhaps go straight to the gutter and think of words or phrases substituted for sex but in reality, according to the dictionary a euphemism is:”The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive.”So you see?  I’m not going to limit you to something as pedestrian as “sex” while creating or sharing your favorite euphemism.  You can feel free to use any harsh, blunt or offensive subject.

Hey, you’re welcome…I know you’ve been itching to try this one.

I could model this for you but I’d rather share with you a website I stumbled upon recently.  Be forewarned…it might get a little harsh, blunt or offensive, euphemistically but there were a couple that cracked me up pretty good and a few that made me blush.

make your own euphemism

best of luck to you…but remember, we do get underage readers in here once in a while…try to contain yourselves…

now hit me with your best shot

I’m trying to space ‘em out…I really am. This one goes along with my strong desire for a Magic 8 Ball from God.

fortune telling fish

the moon is not the poem

My daughter was telling me one day about this story she is writing.  In the story she describes several fantasy level animals and how they interact with one another.  The Phoenix Tree is the place where all the Phoenix gather to live and breed.  The phrase stuck with me for several weeks.  I wrote it down knowing that it was going to become something else to me.  The visual in my head was this actual tree which contained traits belonging to the Phoenix….the living, the healing, the burning and the rising again.  I like the imagery in that.  I like the metaphor for how we live.  I asked Riley if she minded my using her term in another way and she was alright with it.  So, here are the lyrics to the song.  One day when it’s recorded I’ll post that as well. 

The Phoenix Tree                            

every breath greeted clean

pure and new

as close as we get to divinity

when the branches close in

and wrap around

til it all comes down

in flames

The wounds are old

Like the ancient sea

but the roots are deep

on The Phoenix Tree

rising up

keep rising up

so we can see

every breath labored long

strong and steady

as close as we brush in the heavenly

when the leaves press in

whisper in our ears

til it all comes down

in flames

the wounds are real

like the raging sea

but the roots are deep

on this Phoenix tree

building up

keep building up

so we can see

breathing fast and greeted clean

it’s all new and ready

for whatever life brings

The wounds are old

Like the ancient sea

but the roots are deep

on The Phoenix Tree 

every breath greeted clean

pure and new

as close as we get to divinity

I can’t help it…I’m waxing poetic (most literally) as I get ready to attend the Festival of Faith and Writing this year and see my favorite, favorite poet, Scott Cairns.  So, in light of this I’m going to keep posting my poetry.  You have an assignment,dear reader, ESPECIALLY if you are one who would normally eschew the poetic arts.  Your assignment is to tell me if one line or one word, one feeling, one visual jumped out at you.  That is for you.  Roll it around on your tongue this week and make it your own.  You do not HAVE to participate…you may keep this to yourself if you would like.  You will not be graded on this. : )  

Even though NaBloPoMo is over I thought I’d subject you to some more of my poetry.  Don’t complain, there isn’t THAT much in my poetic repetoire so count your blessings, yes?  I wrote this one a few years ago….I still love it.  Sometimes, it helps to read poetry aloud for the full effect.  Better yet, one day I’ll come to an open mic and read it for you.  I can be very entertaining you know. 

CONTINUITY

there

another moment

passed

with effort

unannounced

a moment

well spent

noble currency

a moment

with wings

with life

each breath

a pause

in motion

a beating heart

a universe

of it’s own

Today being the last day of NaBloPoMo is something of a relief, I confess. Until maybe a week ago I was perfectly content to post everyday. I find that I have a lot I want to say, go figure!

I was asked recently about my involvement with a website I touted early in my blogging career called Mary Kay Sucks so in the interest of clarity I thought I would post about that today. I stumbled upon blogging about a year ago and decided to begin Mrs Metaphor on a literary lark so to speak. I wanted to spend some time developing my writing skills and developing the “character” of Mrs Metaphor. I had in mind what I *thought* this might entail and was suprised and a little shocked at the level of emotional frenzy resident in the cyberland experience to be frank. Perhaps if I had contented myself to spend time on the blogs of my friends (real life and internet bound) then I would have found things a little more tame or even edifying, although that BabyChaos and Writerchick really know how to throw a wild party.

I ended up spending a lot of my time at Mary Kay Sucks (which later became Pinktruth and died a little creative death in the process.) The bad part about spending so much time at the anti-Mary Kay site was that it was like working at a crisis center. It began to feel so polarized…Mary Kay:bad, People who hate Mary Kay: Good. In general I believe that polarizations are rarely accurate so to be whipped into such and emotional turmoil about the inner workings of a cosmetics company felt a little off after a while.

The truth is, that I lost myself on that site. I was already sporting a literary character as my identity rather than the real me and then to pile atop that the tenor of the website in question, well…I lost myself. The good thing about spending time at MKS was that I did make some really amazing “cyber” friends, most of whom are my commentary fanclub here…and for which I am most appreciative.

Needless to say that I ended up really needing to quit the “crisis center” blog because of the emotional drain it had become. I do not begrudge the women who still want to “work” there or still want to attend the support groups but I was never really in a position to be the voice of reason or wisdom there. I’ve never sold Mary Kay…and to be honest, I don’t actually believe it to be evil now that I’ve jumped off the bandwagon. I’ve not been terribly adept at bandwagon riding. It gets a little crowded.

What is it about blogs that continues to fascinate us, draw us in, make us care for people we’ve never met and probably never WILL meet? As I continue to expand my internet blogging community I find I am increasingly filled by the words I read and perhaps at the same time weighted by the additional information. It can become overwhelming to keep up. I feel like a “bad” blogging friend when I don’t keep up with what is happening around me.

Alas, posting this month has given me a new appreciation for those of you who actually do post on a regular basis. It is a great deal of work! I was suprised, however, and glad that I didn’t run out of things to tell you about…although some might argue that I was “reaching” at times (read: Italian spiderman….come ON, that was GREAT!)

So, thank you for peeking into this window during the month of November. I was considering posting each day in December just to keep the party going but at this point I think I’d prefer the pace which fits me better, inconsistent and random. : )

Keep checking in with me, I have enjoyed our ride together this month!

I’ve been reading Walt Whitman this week.  I’ve been savoring it line by line.  I know you are all weary of my poetic rantings but I gotta share this piece of wonderful wording which best describes my love of community..

“I have perceiv’d that to be with those I like is enough,To stop in company with the rest at evening is enough,

To be surrounded by beautiful, curious, breathing, laughing flesh is enough,

To pass among them or touch any one, or rest my arm ever so lightly round his or her neck for a moment, what is this then?

I do not ask any more delight, I swim in it as in a sea.

There is something in staying close to men and women and looking on them, and in the contact and odor of them,  that pleases the soul well,

All things please the soul well but these please the soul well.” 

Walt Whitman  ”I sing the body electric” 

You knew it was coming…you did….after Mrs Metaphor’s “Write your own metaphor” and then “Mrs Haiku” how could you get through the year without having to also bear “Mrs Simile?”

Oh, come on….stop your bellyaching…it’s not so bad. This time you can actually use the words “like” and “as.” The very cool thing about the Similie is that it lilts along with such finesse and smoothness, like a tree blowing about in the wind…bending but not breaking…yes?

You may write as much or as little as you’d like…if you can make a comparison in one line then that is just as effective (maybe moreso) as an entire paragraph.

You know the drill…I’d like to see those similies breaking out in full force as the great bull breaks forth from it’s pen on bullfighting day! Your topic, my friends, this Thanksgiving week is well, Thanksgiving. For our friends who live outside the US  and have no reason to don the Pilgrim hat, eat turkey and watch football on Thursday then just tell me about something for which you are thankful at this time in your life.

Go to it…remember, technique is important and content is vital. I want to SEEEEEEE your similie…I want to FEEEEEEEL it in my bones.