A Tidings of Magpies: Advice to Young Poets

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Advice to Young Poets

by Martin Espada

Never pretend
to be a unicorn
by sticking a plunger on your head

14 comments:

GailJuly 23, 2009 at 5:20 AM
Love it! Best advice I have had all week!
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debraJuly 23, 2009 at 6:32 AM
Words of wisdom, unless you are a plumber who likes to pretend.
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smartzJuly 23, 2009 at 7:01 AM
Love it! I'm going to post this one on my bathroom mirror.
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Gaston StudioJuly 23, 2009 at 7:53 AM
Well, that made me smile!
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La FraméricaineJuly 23, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Roger that, Lady Guinevere!

Good thing you got this up today because I was just on my way to the bathroom and the temptation is always there, staring up from the floor, to the left to the toilet.

Merci infiniement,
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English RiderJuly 23, 2009 at 9:31 AM
I agree, but tiaras are so last season. What is one to do?
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aimsJuly 23, 2009 at 10:37 AM
*laughing at all the comments*

I nominated you dear girl - I hope you don't mind!

http://365to42.blogspot.com/2009/07/free-competition-30-prize.html
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OwenJuly 23, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Hilarious...

I suppose the sequel might be something like (?) :

Never pretend
To be an ostrich
By sticking your head in the toilet

(sorry!)
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PyzahnJuly 23, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Why not?
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Mary EllenJuly 23, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Wonderful! And great ripostes as well.
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RudeeJuly 23, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Interesting advice. I'd never thought of this before.
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KathleenJuly 23, 2009 at 9:55 PM
I've heard it said that boys cannot resist putting something with a suction cup on their forehead. So far, I find that true.
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Erin DavisJuly 24, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Oh, if only someone had told me this years ago!
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the watercatsJuly 28, 2009 at 3:32 AM
Love this!... A friend of mine's brother was once showing off in the milking parlour, he stuck one of the milking cups on his chin.... we had to go turn the machine off...lol!
It reminded me of that, could be a farmers poem to young farmers; "Never pretend to be a cow's pap by sticking a suction cup to your chin"..
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Hey, thanks for your thoughts and your time:>)

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random thoughts...

"Speech is our second possession, after the soul--and perhaps we have no other possession in this world."

Gabriela Mistral

The entries here are my writings and works in progress, or another writer's work which has moved my heart. Meant to be a bit of a journal on the days that pass by so quickly. Readers are very welcome, comments and critiques always appreciated.

PS. Any pictures or comments referring to brain matters ARE NOT referring to your brain or anyone's brain. Absolutely not. Think creative non-fiction. Details about individuals have been changed to protect anyone involved, remotely involved, or who may at any time have looked at or even driven past a hospital. I live to comply with HIPAA Federal Law. Unless you are one of the Three Stooges or have ever been on Shindig, in which case, yeah, that's you. Be proud and out loud.

Desiderata

Go placidly
amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace
there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms
with all persons.
Speak your truth
quietly and clearly; and listen
to others
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself
with others,
you may become
vain or bitter,
for always there will be
greater and lesser persons
than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements
as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career,
however humble;
it is a real possession in the
changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution
in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you
to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere
life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity
and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering
the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not not distress yourself
with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of
fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not
it is clear to you,
no doubt
the universe is unfolding
as it should.
Therefore
be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery
and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

--Max Ehrmann

groups of birds

a bevy of quail
a bouquet of pheasants
a brood of hens
a building of rooks
a cast of hawks
a charm of finches
a colony of penguins
a company of parrots
a congregation of plovers
a cover of coots
a covey of partridges
a deceit of lapwings
a descent of woodpeckers
a dissimulation of birds
a dole of doves
an exaltation of larks
a fall of woodcocks
a flight of swallows
a gaggle of geese
a host of sparrows
a kettle of hawks
a murmuration of starlings
a murder of crows
a muster of storks
a nye of pheasants
an ostentation of peacocks
a paddling of ducks
a parliament of owls
a party of jays
a peep of chickens
a pitying of turtledoves
a raft of ducks
a rafter of turkeys
a seige of herons
a skein of geese
a sord of mallards
a spring of teal
a tidings of magpies
a trip of dotterels
an unkindness of ravens
a watch of nightingales
a wedge of swans
a wisp of snipes