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| grime, usher, module, zipper, em-pour-ium.Image from the Internet.
The opening poem contains all the words (or variations of them) from today's Jumble.
Comments are welcomed! And couching them in Poetry is definitely NOT required.
Do not explicitly reveal any of the actual answer words until after closing time, but embedding them surreptitiously in comment sentences is encouraged.
14 comments:
Our LA Times newspaper was not delivered this morning, but I was able to get the Jumble answers on the computer. So here's the pathetic verse this helped me to produce.
"Lou's News"
Lou was a dedicated usher,
who hushed every theater gusher.
But the place had much grime,
which was a bit of a crime.
So Lou stood on a stool
and installed a module
with a switch like a clipper
that worked like a flipper.
This lit the hall's sheen
and made it easier to clean.
So now Lou's emporium
once again has a quorum,
for the theater looks much lusher,
thanks to Lou, its great usher.
Once again, I finished this early but fell asleep before I posted it.
"Space Explorers Poured"
We were ushered into the capsule, where we zippered the module tight.
All was spotless, grime-free, hygienic, and ready for our flight.
We took to our stations quickly & began the steps to launch;
squeezed together by the blast, we were all pressed haunch to haunch.
The power of escape velocity was felt in every bone;
no matter how much thrust we got, we still yelled, "Pour it on!"
~ OMK
I missed my paper too. All I found were the ad insert pages!
Plus, my computer is acting up, taking forever to respond to any command.
But I was able to read your poem, Misty. I found Lou to be the ideal usher--and I enjoyed the absence of any "mills" in today's straightforward account of his work habits.
One thing that was strange was to see two rhymes--"flipper" and "clipper"--that seemed to be the set-up for one of the clue words, and yet that "Z" word was nowhere to be seen!
A subtle new way to give a hint?
~ OMK
Liked the way you kept POUR in you verse title and verse, OMK.
I actually had Zipper in my first draft of the poem, and then just felt as though it didn't make sense (not that anything in my verse makes sense) and changed it, forgetting that it was a Jumble word I should have kept. Sorry about that.
Please remind me what "mills" are again?
LOL, Misty.
"A "mill" (from "License to Mill") is my shorthand for "milling about with words," i.e. mixing up the usual order of subject/verb/object--most often by sticking the verb at the end, as when, for instance, one might say, "The boy the ball caught."
--Or even worse, "The boy the ball did catch."
This is done, as you know, in order to make rhyming easier*. It was tolerated as one of the features of "poetic license" up through Victorian times, but nowadays sticks out as unnatural and a sign of an altered state of consciousness, like an old Hallmark card.
As Hamlet says, in his advice to the Players,
"Pray You, avoid it!"
~ OMK
___________
* Although it may seem impossible, there is always a way to rhyme without distorting good order.
I think the reason it was OK to muck about with word order in olden times was that poetry was thought to be a "higher" form of speech, elevated from everyday conversational speech.
Just HOW it was to be recognized as highfalutin was a mystery, so poets and fans accepted certain "strangenesses"--Britishisms for one (in America), archaic speech ("Avaunt, ye traitor!") and unconventional word order as well.
But nowadays we usually aim to avoid drawing attention to fancy or dated speech.
Or just to make rhymes happen (except for comic effect--which you have done with genius).
~ OMK
Well, that certainly is a very helpful explanation, Ol 'Man Keith, and does explain why my verses would be considered archaic in this day and age. I hate giving up using the Jumble words as the words to rhyme at the end of the lines, but it also explains why your and Owen's and Wilbur's poems are so much more sophisticated. I'll think about experimenting with this, but please don't hesitate to point out the "mills" in my usual format, because it will give me a clearer insight into my methods and their possible grammatical deviations.
The things you learn on a poetry blog-- amazing!
Thank you, Misty. I am glad that you may find something useful in my comments & happy you don't take offense at my presumption.
I too am working my way through these first steps of the "poetry game," a form of writing I never tried before.
I'm learning a good deal from you. As a fellow teacher I know you appreciate that we gain personally when we encounter the serious work of others--just needing to formulate a critique of their work, to find the right ideas & words to convey our approvals & objections--and share thoughts on how to move forward.
~ OMK
They took two cars, Chet and Lois in the back of a Buick
Chet hoped to usher in a new relationship, if he had any luck.
He hardly knew what to say to Lois so he wisely zipped his lip.
Regardless the ride across town would be a memorable trip.
They went to a new complex, a veritable movie emporium,
Multiple modules, various refreshments, IMAX and then some.
They found seats for Cruella in one of the newest Cinemas
All Chet could think was "This surely beats those grimy bars".
WC
The above composed in the jury waiting room at Tampa. I finished Thursday and Friday and 2/3 of Saturday (shudder).
Good advice from OMK. I'd say just keep on versing , Misty.
Speaking of, very nice piece today, Keith, it flowed nicely and told the story.
WC
It's only 8 pm pacific time so perhaps I'll see some more comments
WC
One more thought, Misty, in reply to your preference for placing the Jumble words at the ends of lines...
If you decide to start positioning these special words at random spots within your verses, you will be giving any visitors to the site more of a real challenge.
The clue words won't be posted so obviously but will be more deeply embedded.
Depending on how decipherable you want your hints to be, this may be counted a plus or a minus.
~ OMK
Based on your definition, I think I "mill" a lot! in my poetry. In fact, I may be a "mill"ionaire!
Re the easter egg discussion over on the corner, do you agree our poems are easter egg fields?
Wilbur, so happy that Chet and Lois are having a good date. Hope it ends well.
Misty, tomorrow will provide some background.
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