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Re: Anib
Yes, I was busy but could at times squeeze in in between to post. I find your comments delightfully thoughtful and clear, and why not? You are such a good writer yourself. As for your aversion for poetry it stems from your preference for clarity. Brevity can be sacrificed for the sake of clarity. And, I fully agree that English is probably the one language that is so rich that one has many options to express the same idea. Wordsworth's Daffodils is one example of a clear poem where one can savour the wordings that touches the feelings; it has the power to make one emotional and purge dirt away,even if they be momentary period. So also I find Robert Herrick a seventeenth century poet, beautifully clear in his expressions of carpe diem. For example, To The Vergins, to Make much of Time:
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, / Old Time is still a-flying; / And this same flower that smiles today / Tomorrow will be dying./ The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, / The higher he’s a-getting, / The sooner will his race be run, / And nearer he’s to setting. / That age is best which is the first, / When youth and blood are warmer; / But being spent, the worse, and worst / Times still succeed the former. / Then be not coy, but use your time, / And while ye may, go marry; / For having lost but once your prime, You may forever tarry.
How's your mom now. She is in my daily prayers. Cheers
posted by
anib
on November 17, 2017 at 9:38 PM
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Anib
I am just now catching up with your posts. I thought you were busy elsewhere, as was I, then I find you have been busy here as well. This is a delightful post, which is ultimately about the incredible versatility of the English language.
I wonder if other languages have the capability to say the same thing, in several different ways. I doubt it. My exposure to Spanish, German, and Thai language tells me that those languages are more limited in their options of expression. I think English is the most versatile language in the world, but I am open to be corrected by any expert of another language.
To illustrate my point, I was tempted to re-write my comment using different English words to say the same thing, which I could have done with a bit of work, but then I realized that would be too much work, for a comment.
Suffice it to say, I could re-write this comment with different words 2 or 3 times, but it would be much less understandable, because I long ago decided to purposely select the English words that will be the most likely to be understood, by the most people.
I have been further forced to do this, by marrying a Thai woman whose mastery of English is marginal, at best. When the underlying message is important (and when is it not?), we best not play around with the delivery of the message. This plays havoc with literary genres such as poetry, which loves to play with the delivery of the message, to the point of not being understood.
This might explain my aversion to most poetry. Why should I have to work so hard, to understand what the poet is trying to tell me, in a contorted way? They try to mask their message, so that we must try to unmask it. You excel in that type of reading and writing, but sadly I do not. Not all of us are poets, nor fans of poetry. But I do still like to read poems, to see how the author will play with us. In this way, I am perhaps a glutton for punishment, LOL. One should not complain of self-inflicted misery. Cheers
posted by
GoldenMean
on November 15, 2017 at 1:58 AM
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My thanks to everyone who read and commented
posted by
anib
on November 9, 2017 at 11:33 PM
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Sounds like a wonderful time!
posted by
Annicita
on November 8, 2017 at 2:40 PM
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The old country folk here would use your quotes quite often. Things like 'Are you wearing that hat or walking beside it. N(A kind of challenge. ) She wants to know the cag of a mag. (An inquisitive woman.) One of my favorites (It is cold enough for a walking stick)
Rarely hear them now. Although occasionally Yorkshire (there's nowt like folk.) Or even a bit of Cockney slang . (got the greengages, or up the apples and pears.) Your examples brought to mind,thank you./
posted by
C_C_T
on November 7, 2017 at 10:30 AM
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Aba Brother
Oh, these are rich, Aba dear bro! Quite entertaining. I especially like the last two. One could go on and on. Plain-speak seems to be an art also. lol! What a great conference that must have been, with such interesting topics. Now it's time to rest. 
posted by
Sea_Gypsy
on November 7, 2017 at 10:01 AM
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