Thursday, December 1, 2011

Thursday Thoughts...

I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word.
Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.

Emily Dickinson

I wasn't planning on this one - I had a much funnier one I thought I remembered, and then this one just smiled at me and said - oh yes, choose me please!

What a lovely, lovely thought and so beautiful expressed.  I am in awe of people who can use words so beautifully, elegantly and evocatively. It is a true delight to be in the presence of real wordsmiths who can stitch together the most wonderful expressions and leave you with words rolling around your tongue just for the pure joy of saying them over and over again.

I have several friends with just such a skill and I really enjoying reading their notes or emails or letters or blog posts and engaging with exploring language and challenging myself to use more accurate or expressive words - rather than opting for the safe and easy.

I sat here and imagined Emily Dickinson sitting quietly and gazing at a word she had written, her eyes opening wide as it started to shimmer and shine; what an wonderful experience. Did it dance and move as well I wonder?

Not only do words have the power to shine, but they are powerful tools as well, sometimes reverberating across the world and down the generations...

©2008 Fiona Dempster - Quest
The words themselves don't shine - more the golden panels they are written on - but it's kind of the same. This is another of my made-up calligraphic scripts; where the number and style of pen strokes is the same for each letter as we do in a Roman alphabet, just mixed up a bit.

PS - don't miss the chance to go into the give-away draw! Drawn Sunday night Australian time...

5 comments:

  1. Your love of words is so obvious Fiona... you treasure each one. I am in awe of your reverence for the written word.

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  2. Thank you Jo - they hold much magic, mystery and enlightenment for me indeed!

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  3. I love reading anything well written - a shining turn of phrase, a quiet new word I have to go look up, a thought provoking paragraph. It just makes me happy! I found your site from Jo's "blog award" and just love your style and am now your newest follower!

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  4. This is a lovely post, Fiona, and bears the mark of a true artist - humility. What you do with words in your own way of immortalizing them as not only bits of meaning but actual touchable and visual phenomena is amazing to me as a writer, something I can appreciate but never accomplish. Brava!

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  5. Hi Terrie - I wish you happy following! Sorry I've been a lax responder...

    One of my favourite things is my dictionary app on my phone so I can check out and discover the meanings of new words anywhere anytime. Words are wonderful and shiny things.

    Hi G/TT - I think you are too kind - your way with words is magnificent! Thanks for your kind words and thoughts - I appreciate them greatly.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.