Spring has sprung
in winter’s grip.
Summer’s begs that
either slip,
as Mother Nature
nurses her fat lip.

~Sherry Rentschler  (c) Apr 2018 in honor of the wacky weather

National Poetry Month arrived April 1 and during the next thirty days I take great pleasure discussing the ins and outs of free verse, making bizarre limericks, giggling over e.e. cummings, immersed in Baudelaire or Yeats, and wishing I was in Paris during the time of the beat poets.

For most folks, Poetry Month is something they hear about on Pubic Television (and therefore avoided) or from school (and therefore avoided), or in passing on the internet or social media sites (and dismissed as done by college kids or rappers). Such perceptions are a shame too, because National Poetry Month is all about discovery and learning, finding pleasure in seeing the world in new ways. 

Because we need to read poetry and let it help us discover our world in ways news and scholars and schools do not.

I heard someone say, “Poetry. Just rhyming words about things over my head.” Such remarks remind me that poetry doesn’t reach “the common man” because we never stressed the common man poems. It was all Iliad, Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Keats. And we groaned, remember? (well, I didn’t, but my friends certainly did).

More, the above comment carries weight because poetry, once the style of telling stories has passed into the background. You don’t find it in Kohl’s or Walgreens or the grocery store. It’s not in the magazines (but once or twice a year) for April and perhaps Christmas. Kids talk about it at school just long enough to get to lunch where they can discuss “real literature” like Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, and Wonder, or discuss the latest comic book/graphic novel that became a blockbuster movie (Marvel, anyone?).

Sadly, the very people discussing the latest blockbusters and listening to their playlists on their phones, are missing some of the best moments in quotable literature. According to CNN, “Fewer than 7% of Americans polled in 2012 had read a work of poetry at least once in the past year — down from 17% in 1992, according to a national survey (PDF) by the U.S. Census Bureau on behalf of the National Endowment for the Arts. That decline in participation was the steepest found in any literary genre.”

What we need to emphasis to our children and each other, is poetry is the short, short, short, story. A poem can define a moment, bring us together in surprise or sorrow, encapsulate a thought, and help us to understand ourselves in brilliant and usually brief ways. Just look at Maya Angelou or Mary Oliver and how easily we come to share their understanding. No, you don’t need to read Dante’s Inferno (though you really would enjoy it), when you can read William Carlos Williams or even Dylan Thomas. Truth is simple. And poetic.

No, poetry isn’t mainstream anymore. But if you hang out on Twitter or Instagram and you search for poetry or poets, you’ll be amazed at the real poems being shared and quotes coming from them. Many don’t even realize the poem that originated a quote but are surprised to realize that poetry made the words quotable. Take the great poet, Alexander Pope in his An Essay on Criticism, Part II , 1711:

Ah ne’er so dire a Thirst of Glory boast,
Nor in the Critick let the Man be lost!
Good-Nature and Good-Sense must ever join;
To err is Humane; to Forgive, Divine.

Poetry is more about us than we realize. Poetry is us. We sing it and the songs we sing become markers of our lives. We quote snappy lines, sometimes not realizing the words are ancient or even Nobel Prize winning. 

Do we need to know that? Nope. What we need to do is read more poetry. We need to not “go gentle into that good night” but rage against poetry’s invisibility. Help others to see the beauty all around them. Start with a child’s poem such as the insightful Shel SIlverstein. Or even Dr Seuss.  But let us dust off our old tomes and read….and celebrate Poetry Month, every month. Let our children become the natural poets of the future. Start now.

 There are so many good poets and poems out there. Sure we need to read the classics to discover the artful phrase, to understand the development of the art form, to hear the triumph in epic verses. But does that matter in the long term? Nope. What we need to do today is introduce each other to the modern poets and create a love for common words defining life in uncommon ways. To restore our wonder and excitement. To show us that we can know profound things and be better for the knowing. Poetry does this and so much more.

Let us read some poetry. Share with a friend. Just one poem. Maybe once a week or, better yet, once a day. Don’t do it with anyone if you are nervous or shy. Read it alone. Think and enjoy.

But read poetry. It will improve you, delight you, surprise and shock you. It can enrich you and prevent the inevitable ennui that comes with time.

Be invited in. See the world through rose colored glasses. Or in the boldest colors of reality.

Poetry matters.  Check out some of the ones mentioned here or ask your friends what they are reading. Go on an adventure and allow yourself to be surprised. See your world through creative, fresh eyes and maybe you’ll be inspired to write a poem or two yourself. Share with children and let’s all be a little more free verse in our lives.

Happy reading!
I remain, Yours Between the Lines,

Sherry

This week I thought it would be fun to answer some questions that fellow writers sent me. I offer these writing issues with my personal opinions for possible solutions.

Let’s begin with a big one I get asked repeatedly:

I want to write but I just can’t find a way to begin. I’m blocked. I feel the words but can’t get them down on paper. Now I’m not sure I’ll ever write. ~Susan, Calif.

Hi Susan. First, I don’t believe in writer’s block (never did). I think I can help you with my trick. When I feel overwhelmed with lots of ideas, I do a brain dump. I have a variety of notebooks for just this sort of issue. First, I have a notebook for “ideas.” These are the random things I think about but aren’t sure what to do with them yet. Then I have a notebook for every book/project I’m working on. I keep those ideas together and that’s to be sure I don’t lose any story gems I think about but can’t write about just yet. Next, I have a notebook for research. You know those things you learn but it isn’t trivia and it isn’t a story (yet) but you think you might need it? I call this my Random Facts book. Very handy.  With these notebooks, I ensure that my ideas are captured and my brain is emptied of the clutter. This allows me to have a sharper focus on what I need or want to do and I’m not fighting my own ideas. 

Then you just begin. Don’t worry if it isn’t the actual beginning of a story or novel. Just start writing. Aren’t sure where the story is going to go? Don’t rub that wound, just let the writing out. Go ahead and do that crazy dialogue you’ve been fuming over. Write that creative description of that house. Take the car ride and tell us what you see. Just start. The rest will come. Hope this helps.

I have to do research for my story but I don’t know how to stop. I love it and my writing stops when I start searching. Then It’s hard to start again. ~Ted, MD

Good question, Ted. I love research too. I confess I’ve spent days lost in my search for cool stuff. When I was writing THE GYPSY THORN, I learned so much history, reading about Vienna, trade routes, churches and royalty that I felt I could write a college paper with ease. I printed off gobs of goodies and that is my secret. First, as I told Susan (above), you jot your notes down or you print the stuff off the computer (be sure to keep your bibliography and NEVER plagiarize from others). I like to be able to re-read my research later. To be sure I don’t get lost I either set a timer and stick to it or set aside a day just for that one thing. Then I don’t feel guilty or feel as though I’ve neglected my main work. When I find what I need I stop (most of the time). If I have found other goodies, I bookmark or make the notes in my notebook for the next designated research time. I recommend no more than three days a week if you have a great deal to do or an hour a day if that is more to your needs. Remember when you have your info to go back to that place and start writing about it. This would be in your first draft so don’t worry if it isn’t all “perfect.” Time to fix it later. You’ll do great. Happy hunting.

Since when do we take nouns and make them verbs? Don’t we have real words that we can use? ~Mary, GA

Hi Mary. I’m going to confess your question made me laugh. I often complain about language and how it’s used by others. In this case, I think I see what you mean. For example, author becomes “authoring,” right? And the one that bugs me is “adult” becomes “adulating.” It is curious how words become fads and then go mainstream so fast. But sometimes there just aren’t any words that accurately describe a thing. Take “groovy.”  The word was a jazz term in the 1920’s and mean the player was “in the groove” of the music which came when vinyl records were produced. When the music was “swinging” or “in the pocket” it was in the groove (as in the lay of the record). So in the 60’s, the word matched the feel of a new generation of music and once again, it described the sensation but for a new style of music. It was still the same word but with a new generation of applied feeling. So it is with authoring. I suppose you can say “I’m working on my author duties,” or “I’m making my plans for selling books” but in the spirt of being to the point and succinct, authoring will do. I’ve done the same with words. I’ve used this technique in poetry with great success, Check out my poems The Paper Cut Murder or The Hangnail Prison.  My word “dump-trucked” drew lots of laughter but my book PAPER BONES won awards. I think you should try your hand at creating new words for what you need to say. And I will agree – we say “authoring” and “adulting” waaaay too much. I’m going to make a note for myself. Thanks!

There’s too much to learn and I just want to write. ~Chrystal, TN

Oh I feel this one! I have said the same thing, Chrystal. Writers, as with any profession, are constantly learning their craft. Writing isn’t something you learn once and then go write. Formatting always changes, style changes, even how to write effective dialogue improves and sharpens. Strong writers are plugged into trade magazines, editors, blogs, conferences, groups, and books for the never-ending plethora of writing advice. There are moments, I know, when you feel as though you haven’t learned anything and get frustrated. Happens to everyone. Just keep writing. Practice what you’re learning by doing some writing exercises every day. Like every athlete works out, so you can work out your writing muscles to help make what you are learning become what you are writing. Never stop learning. Stay up-to-date. But never stop writing. You’ll get a rhythm and eventually, the exhaustive reading/learning becomes a part of you. Stay focused.

* * *

Thanks for writing! If I didn’t answer your question here, you probably got an email from me. I like hearing from you, so keep those thoughts coming! Feel free to use the Contact Me form to reach out.

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UPDATES: ** Work progresses on the new book, LOVE AND BLOOD. I took some time off to be sure I was going in the direction I planned and I’ve been working steadily since mid-February. 

**I’m also doing work on some “vignettes” — short “moments” that take place inside stories that don’t make it into books or character insights that are simply fun and not valuable in the main stories. These partial mini-stories help to understand characters and put some events into context. I would like to have these out this year, too.

**Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram. Every Monday I showcase a new pen. I see a book coming on my pens after a year of them (they end late summer, so it will be late this year or early next year for the picture book).

**FACEBOOK LIVE! The monthly chat will Mar 24. Don’t miss out on the fun. I’m giving away some goodies.

As always, thanks for coming by.
I remain, Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry

Technology is stealing our lives and taking over! Remember Skynet? The company that was a net-conscious group-mind of artificial intelligence from the Terminator franchise? Well, turns out Skynet’s machines really are taming us. 

Ok, I’m a bit overly dramatic but I’m on a rant today, so look out. A few recent experiences have forced me to give technology a bit of a pie eye and I hope I can convince you to give it a more considered look, too.

First, did you catch the news about today’s children being unable to hold pencils? Yes, their hands do not easily conform to a pencil because 1. they spend too much time using their thunbs on their Gameboys/cellphones/netbooks etc. 2. they are no longer taught to write with pen or pencil, specifically cursive penmanship.

This news had my jaw hitting the table. First, with all the recent emphasis on calligraphy, I figured that writing was something our young folks cared about. Yes, this is true, if you are over the age of 17 or so. If you are in grade school, no. THE GOOD NEWS is that cursive writing is being taught again. It is a slow return but it IS a return. But seriously, can’t hold a pen or pencil?

Which brings me to my second item. Forks. I went to a restaurant recently and watched an entire family – nice looking, obviously doing well – shoveling their food with a spoon. Who eats steak with a spoon? Was it because they can’t properly HOLD A FORK? Maybe that’s related to the spoons. Whatever it was, it was beyond bizzare and I might have written it off until I saw it again with a couple of fifth and sixth graders who opted to eat with their fingers because the SPORK was too confusing and difficult to manage. Oh my Emily Post.

My third peeve with technology is how we are forgetting to think for ourselves. I have clocks in my home that require a person to be able to tell time. I don’t mean to have time TOLD to you. When a clock says 10:12 that is being told the time. I have clocks with dots for numbers and/or Roman numerals and I can not tell you how many 20, 30 and 40 something’s have looked at the clock and then asked me what time it was only to confess they can’t actually tell time. They’ve gotten used to being told what time it is. None of my watches will do for them nor my wall clock or grandfather clock. It is shameful to me that these adults need digital representations to give them information.

That’s like shoes. SHOES. I know too many people who need shoes that 1. have straps and Velcro or 2. need zippers  because they don’t know how to tie laces. CAN’T TIE THEIR SHOES. Yes’m I know about fashion and fads but a good pair of Keds or Sketchers never goes out of style! Good grief.

Can’t tie your shoes, or write your name, or tell time….let’s add to the list can’t do math without a calculator. I hate math. But even my nearly 64 years can add up three double digit numbers in my head or write them down on paper (oops, use of pencil), and then add the columns up (you know, carry the 1 and add that in…) to get a result. I love a good calculator when I need a whole line of numbers or adding up five digit long columns but that doesn’t mean I can’t do simple math in my head or multiply in my head without using formulas or fingers and toes. (Do you hear me signing?)

And what about using a dictionary or any reference book? I like Google as much as the next guy but half (or more) of what you read online isn’t fact checked and we all know Wikipedia is great but humans update it with what they think (and not necessarily what is truth). A good history book (old is better since it probably hasn’t been scrubbed and santifized), or even old encylopedias are very useful. That is if you can still recite your alphabet.

We live in a digtal, highly technological world that is being more dependent on cars that drive themselves (Can you park at all or will that go away too?). Do you read a recipe and cook any of your own food or is everything a drive thru or microwave quickie? 

I guess the straw that broke the camel’s back came when my I found out my friend’s second grade daughter couldn’t read yet. ANYTHING. Don’t you read at home, I asked with great surprise. Oh sure, I play them audiobooks all the time. There are great stories about history and even bedtime stories, she said without even feeling the sadness in her words.

I was stunned into complete silence. 

What are we teaching our kids and grandkids when they think pickles grow in jars and bologna is slang term? When cotton comes from a store and bananas grow in the ground and hydroponic is the only understanding of farming they know? When did we forget to teach children about real farming vs growing cabbages in a virtual world where trees suddenly pop up because you have points? What happens when you ask them to read something aloud and all they can do is stumble over words they are used to hearing vocalized, not by parents, but through earbuds, headphones and strange voices. Where letters and numbers are not necessary when the computer TELLS you what to choose from?

I like technology. Thanks to reseach and lab sciences we have breakthroughs in cancer, alzheimers, parkinsons, autism and so much more. Thanks to space travel we know more our about planet and we see what we can do to help fight against global warming (unless you think that is a fake news or a video game). Technology has made advances in safety, in space travel, in recycling, in clean air and water. Advancements have happened because of technology.

BUT! 

What happens when we skip the nuclear war and go right to EMPs and wipe out electronics? Can you start a fire? Or will you be like the fifth grader who didn’t know what a match looked like because Daddy used a click on lighter and a gas grill? He never saw charcoal in action much less ever learned how to start a fire unless he had gasoline and a blow torch. (Yes, that was hyperbole).

Seriously, we need to remember our basic skills and not lose them in the wake of technological advances. I can still make my own food from scratch, I know how to wind a watch and read a clock, I can write a letter (remember those?) and type with only using my thumbs for the space bar on the typewriter.

Technology is good. But not when it makes us stupid. Consider that when you ask your Alexa what time it is (yes i have Alexa too, and I like her!).

The answer is to remember to be smarter than the machines and don’t surrender to Skynet or the Matrix as the easy way out of life. We have tools we can use to fend for ourselves. Let’s remember to use what we have first and not forget the basics. Let technology tackle the truly technical stuff, the way we first envisioned it. Then no matter how fancy and techno awesome we make our lives, in the dark we can still find the lightswitch, change the channel, read a book by flashlight or make a hamburger without visual aids. We are thinking creatures.

If you doubt the reasoning just ask yourself what will you do if the next cyberattack takes down the internet or electricity? Won’t happen? It’s already happened. Twice.

We can still marvel at our advancing world, while continuing to think – and do – for ourselves. Self-reliance and independence is more than simply making enough money to pay the bills or buy an Alexa or a self-driving car. It’s managing to live in the light and the dark but by conscious choice.

Thanks for listening,
Yours Between the Lines,

Sherry

(Ps. I borrowed Skynet from the movies – I did not think that up myself and no offense is intended)