Alcoholism

Alcohol is the most widely consumed, and misused drug. Beer alone is the world's most consumed beverage, beating out even coffee. It;s been around since the Egyptians. It is the third-most popular drink overall, after water and tea.

To A Groom

Louise Rosenblatt' Transactional theory proposes that the understanding of poetry is achieved at the intersection of the poem with the reader's mind. The meaning doesn't exist in the poem itself nor the individual readers' minds, but it's derived when the words are understood and connected to one's background knowledge.

Enough Already

Reading poetry will make you a better reader and writer. As former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky has said: "Poetry connects us with our deep roots, our evolution as an animal that evolved rhythmic language as a means of transmitting vital information across the generations. We need the comfort and stimulation that this vital part of us gets from the ancient art."

Shirley Said

Only a modest percentage of Americans have the wealth needed to afford whatever long-term care needs they might need and the poorest are covered by Medicaid—the large majority of Americans whose income and resources make them ineligible for Medicaid or most other safety-net assistance, yet are not nearly wealthy enough to sustain the ongoing costs of long-term care go without

Eyes

A pair of eyes, glancing slightly to the left on most platforms represents the Eyes emoji. The Google version of this emoji previously showed only a single eye, despite the name of this character being eyes (plural). Sometimes used to indicate 'pervy eyes' to indicate approval of an attractive photo posted online; or 'shifty eyes' to convey a deceitful act.

Why?

Poetry has somewhat of a bad reputation for having no understandable story and being overly complicated. I get it. My point is, don't be dissuaded by poetry because of your aversion to poems as an art form. Probably the best method is finding a poet, or even one poem that you love and find meaning in, then working outwards from there. You don't have to know why you like it, it just has to be something that you feel a connection to.

A Poet

If you read or write poetry, at one point or another, you've probably asked yourself the following questions: What does this poem mean? What is the purpose behind it? Both are valid questions to pose. But in the end, as Carl Sandburg used to say, "Poetry is an echo asking a shadow to dance."

New Connie Murphy Mystery Available

There are five components to a good mystery: the characters, the setting, the plot, the problem, and the solution. But to put all these together, there is no beter person to write such a story than someone who has actually been there. Barb Smith, as a former FDA investigator, has got to be on anyone's list of people with the most acturate stories to tell. Something to really keep you on the edge of your seat. 

They Bring Me Peace

Writing is the sharing of experience, the mutual understanding about life. Successful poems can reveal thoughts that may not have been in the writer's conscious mind when pen was put to paper. The best poetry has a magical quality—the ability to articulate feelings that go beyond words, creating something more. That's the power poetry.

Over

When writing poetry, the poet's job is to translate feelings or thoughts onto a page in the same way that a novelist creates their world, but in fewer words and and using a unique voice of well chosen words.

Shrink

The term shrink is largely outdated and belongs to an era in which mental health treatment was a source of shame. While there remains a stigma surrounding mental health today, getting treatment is far more widely accepted than it was when this term was more commonly used.

Alive and at the Helm

You'll find no single method for comprehending poetry, just as there's no one method for writing poetry. The experience of reading a good poem and appreciating how the poet uses language is its own reward. The overriding rule is to not speed read, don't skip over words or sections, and whenever possible, read the poem aloud.

Love and Loss

The first and most important step in understanding poetry is to figure out what is happening in the poem, or at least what is being presented. Even though there may be no story or characters, there are things, and these things will interact with each other in various ways.

Coming Soon

Notice point of view. When pondering what the poem means, consider the mindset of the speaker. Would a different poetic speaker alter one's understanding of the poem? Consider the sound of each word as it hits your ear, and take in the aesthetic pleasures of the sounds themselves.

Spirit

There is a belief that a distinction between spirit and soul has been made by the west and earlier civilizations, which influenced western development. The human spirit can be seen as the heavenly component of a human's non-material make up - the part that is impersonal or universal. While the soul is a personal element unique to each individual.

Myopia and Maplewood Rose Garden

On June 15, 1958 the Stecher Memorial Fountain honoring the late Frank Stecher was dedicated in Maplewood Park during the Rose Garden ceremonies. The fountain, made of pink Georgia marble, was presented to the city by Mrs. George Schlegelr, founder of the Stecher Lithograph Company. Mayor Peter Barry accepted the $2,000 structure on behalf of the city.

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