A Writer's Moment: 'In terms of rhymes'

A Writer's Moment: 'In terms of rhymes':   “Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn't for you.”  – Ogden Na...

'In terms of rhymes'

 

“Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn't for you.” – Ogden Nash

         

 Born in Rye, NY in August of 1902, Nash was known for his light verse, of which he wrote over 500 pieces. With his unconventional rhyming schemes he was declared by many critics and fellow poets alike as the country's best-known producer of humorous poetry.  "I think in terms of rhyme, and have since I was six years old," he said.  For Saturday’s Poem, here are a few examples of Nash’s poetic musings.

 

    A Word to Husbands

To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up.

 

              Celery

             Celery, raw
         Develops the jaw,
       But celery, stewed,
     Is more quietly chewed.

 

                   A Flea and a Fly in a Flue

A flea and a fly in a flue

               Were imprisoned, so what could they do?
                        Said the fly, "let us flee!"
                        "Let us fly!" said the flea.
                So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

 

          Morning Prayer

    Now another day is breaking,
    Sleep was sweet and so is waking.
    Dear Lord, I promised you last night
    Never again to sulk or fight.
    Such vows are easier to keep
    When a child is sound asleep.
    Today, O Lord, for your dear sake,
     I'll try to keep them when awake.

A Writer's Moment: The 'discomfort of labels'

A Writer's Moment: The 'discomfort of labels':   Writers never feel comfortable having labels attached to them, however accurate they are.  – Jonathan Coe   Born in Bromsgrove, Englan...

The 'discomfort of labels'

 

Writers never feel comfortable having labels attached to them, however accurate they are. – Jonathan Coe

 

Born in Bromsgrove, England in August of 1961, Coe has written 17 mostly satirical and politically focused novels, starting with 1987’s The Accidental Woman.  His most recent novel is 2024’s The Proof of My Innocence and his next one Lessons in Harmony, slated for release this November.  His novel Middle England won both the European and Costa book awards.

 

 Coe also has had several nonfiction books, led by Humphrey Bogart: Take It and Like It – one of the best written on the late actor – and his ongoing love of music has led to collaborations with other writers and musicians on a wide range of songs.  And he’s written several children’s books, but no short stories.

 

“I have trouble keeping things out of books, which is why I don't write short stories,” he said.   “They just seem to turn into novels.” 

A Writer's Moment: 'Reluctant writing; successful results'

A Writer's Moment: 'Reluctant writing; successful results':   “One way an author dies a little each day is when his books go out of print.”  – William Goldman   Born in Chicago on this date in 193...

'Reluctant writing; successful results'

 

“One way an author dies a little each day is when his books go out of print.” – William Goldman

 

Born in Chicago on this date in 1931, Goldman wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplays for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President's Men and also wrote two massively bestselling novels – the thriller Marathon Man and the comedy-fantasy The Princess Bride – also adapted into successful films.  He wrote 20 screenplays and adapted or consulted on a dozen more, all critical and box office successes.

 

The prolific Goldman, who died in 2018, studied writing at Oberlin College and authored 16 novels, a children’s book, 9 nonfiction books and numerous short stories to go along with his many screenplays.  But, despite that success, he often referred to himself as “a reluctant writer.”

 

“The easiest thing to do on earth is not write,” he said. “But this is life on earth, you can't have everything.”

A Writer's Moment: 'To hold nothing back'

A Writer's Moment: 'To hold nothing back':   “I love writing. I've pursued it with a passion.”  – Betsy Byars   Born in Charlotte, NC in August of 1928, Byars' passion for...