Homily to Myself
A new year is the time for self-improvement:
to take a breath of calm deliberation
to be awake to all the flaws within
to jettison all bitterness and regret
to stoke the fire of righteous indignation
to listen to the tumult of good counsel
to make a step for clarity of purpose
to venture into untried fields of vision
to practise with the art of meditation
to halt the giddy rush towards the end
PS In case you think I can’t spell, I use the English English form of practise as a verb – to us practice is the noun (like advice and advise)
for Brenda’s Sunday Whirl
a lso posted for Open Link Night at the Imaginary Garden
Great advice for us all! Thank you, Viv.
An inspiring poem. I’m with Elizabeth about feeling tired, hee hee. But now I know why I have always been confused about spelling practice/se.
this could well be viv’s ten commandments for the new year! great fun.
that last line really does it…
Ah, yes!
I enjoyed this very much. Well done.
Thank goodness for someone who knows the difference between practice and practise, licence and license. There is hope for the world!! (Love the poem too!)
Guess I need to revisit my list..
A fine list poem, Viv. I am still chuckling about the spelling of practise, practice, advise, and advice. I teach British English, it is my preference.
Pamela
Hooray
I like the way you did this poem–feels very balanced to me and contains excellent goals. And I did not even notice the different spellings. Guess I read more for content than looking closely at the words and their spellings.
What a great New Year mantra and a road map for a meaningful life. Wow. Plus, Margo had some very interesting insight yo your genius and I totally concur with her. Whew!
I love that word genius, but it does not apply to me! Hard graft and persistence are all I bring to poetry.
I’m loving jettison….and forgot about alternate spellings for practice until I started reading this morning. Ethnocentric me. ha! Your use of language is superb.
It always amazes me when a bunch of random words are converted into a poem that stands on its own merits!
I didn’t even notice the use of practise until you pointed it out. Good choice of mnemonic.
You told Elizabeth yours is prosaic, hers is poetry. I see what you mean, but I don’t agree if you mean commonplace, lacking in poetic beauty. Unromantic, okay, you have me there. The styles differ vastly, but look at your words and the order in which they are. Two lists. Look at your second words:
take
be awake
jettison
stoke
listen
make
venture
practise
halt
then your end words:
deliberation
within
regret
indignation
counsel
purpose
vision
meditation
end
Poetic, woman!
Thank you, Margo. I’m always very choosy about headwords and endwords – it was drummed into us on my uni courses. And I think it was you, way back who suggested we write a poem where each line started with an active verb – I’ve never forgotten that lesson, either!
Viv, the list has a great rhythm — and a ton of wisdom. Nicely wordled!
Sounds like good things for the new year. I wondered about the line, “to stoke the fire of righteous indignation.” Perhaps I didn’t understand?
Indignation at injustice, war and cruelty is righteous: indignation at the petty irritations of life is futile.
“to halt the giddy rush to the end” (whether by practise or practice – virtually, no pun intended, ) this bit of poetic wisdom will echo … wonderful poem
And ‘us’ should know ‘cos ‘us’ invented the language…!
btw… I didn’t make any resolutions…
a great list! I appreciate the lesson on the correct use of the words – now if I can get it correct in my writing!
I’m with Tilly about practice and practise (confusion). I love your list for self-improvement, only wish I felt half as energetic as your list implies.
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/living-lesson/
advice is a noun, practiCe is a noun
advise is a verb, practiSe is a verb.
QED
I have mastered advice and advise because of the pronunciation, but practice and practise still confuse me.
I love the poem.
which is why I use advice and advise as a mnemonic for the others!
Yes, but I can’t seem to grasp it.