We Talk About “Strong Verbs”, But… We are often told to use strong verbs in our writing. It sounds straightforward enough, doesn’t it? But here’s the confusing bit: “strong verb” means two quite different things, depending on whether we’re talking about grammar or the craft of writing. And the distinction is rather interesting. Strong verbs… Continue reading “Strong Verbs”
Tag: Poetry
Sparking Emotion
Sparking Emotions in Poetry How word choice influences the readerPoetry is not simply about describing what we see. It is about helping the reader to see, hear and feel what we want to convey.The words we choose influence the emotional atmosphere of a poem. A small change in diction, particularly in the choice of verbs,… Continue reading Sparking Emotion
Adjectives in Poetry
“There is a difference between writing poetically and writing poetry.” Thomas Lux Beginning poets often assume that poetry differs from prose because poetry is more descriptive or evocative.Not necessarily.Good prose can be wonderfully evocative. One important difference is compression. A prose writer may have paragraphs or pages in which to build a scene. A poet… Continue reading Adjectives in Poetry
The Function of a Poem’s Title
In many poetic traditions, especially micro‑forms such as Haiku and Tanka — poems often appear without titles. But in most other forms, the title is a crucial part of the poem’s design. It is the reader’s first introduction, the opening gesture, and often the first clue to meaning.A title is not simply a label. It… Continue reading The Function of a Poem’s Title
Revision of a 2016 poem
Do We Ever Really Learn?Sometimes an old piece of writing surfaces — a scrap from a different version of ourselves — and it asks quietly whether it still belongs to us.This one was written in 2016, during a time when rhyme felt like a kind of scaffolding, a way to hold emotion steady. Reading it… Continue reading Revision of a 2016 poem
Metaphor
Exploring Metaphor The brain is a tree. What is a metaphor? A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is described as another in order to reveal something they have in common.The word metaphor comes from the Greek idea of carrying or transferring something across. In writing, meaning is carried from one… Continue reading Metaphor
Using Euphony in a Poem.
Mythic Whisper Poem A thin shiver of hush brushes your cheek,as if the dark itself has reached out to speak your name.Not darknesssomething older wearing the darklike a borrowed cloak. It moves with the ancient authorityof a presence that has crossedtoo many thresholdsto bother announcing itself. A breath stirs.Not wind.Not ghost.A hush with lineage,a sound… Continue reading Using Euphony in a Poem.
The changing face of a poem.
“A decade can quietly reshape the syntax of our lives. Recently, I looked back at a poem I wrote in 2016 and felt the urge to revisit it—not just to polish the words, but to see how ten years of living might soften the edges. Here is where I began.” 2016: The Blueprint Ode to… Continue reading The changing face of a poem.
Podcast Episode: The Crucible of Grit – From Victorian Wards to the Western Front Companion to Article 2.
Pip: There is a version of nursing history that involves soft lighting and quiet heroism. Mary’s latest work for Converging Lives suggests the actual version involved scrubbing stone floors on your knees at midnight. Mara: This episode follows the journey from Victorian hospital wards to the Western Front — the grit, the discipline, and the… Continue reading Podcast Episode: The Crucible of Grit – From Victorian Wards to the Western Front Companion to Article 2.
Article 3: The Crucible of Grit – From Victorian Wards to the Western Front
Continuing the articles based on the book Hospital Corners by Mary Bray. History loves to romanticise the early days of nursing, painting a picture of soft-spoken “angels of mercy” gliding serenely between hospital beds. But the reality was far from gentle. The foundation of modern nursing wasn’t built on fragile sentimentality; it was forged through… Continue reading Article 3: The Crucible of Grit – From Victorian Wards to the Western Front
