Poetry has the virtue
of reviving a diminishing mind,
like doing a crossword –
from the power of the words.
Other oldies use Sudoku to pass the time
and keep the mind alive -
a burden worse than watching paint dry
or grass grow. They have no words,
only soul-less numbers.
Therapy lies in the steps needed
to make a palace into a room
or visa versa from a cryptic clue.
The bends and mental gymnastics
to decipher anagrams
and drunken puzzles
are similar to those involved
in writing a poem, choosing line breaks
deciding which metaphor to keep,
which device of rhyme or metre
you wish to ditch.
Writing a Wordle poem
is a one-way ticket to insanity,
but that’s another story.
for the Sunday Whirl
also linked to Open Link Night at Real Toads
“Writing a Wordle poem is a one-way ticket to insanity” At last! An explanation and an excuse!
You keep coming back week after week writing these “wordles”, but the results are never the same. If that’s not the definition of insanity, then I’m not doing it right!. Well done Viv!
You are absolutely right, Viv! Considering, re-imagining, writing, creating… how can a mind get lost with this path laid out?
http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2013/01/14/in-three/
Viv, I agree about the one=way ticket… but even more about Sodukus. I see people “figuring” them all the time. The charm eludes me, for, as you said, they are the same soulless nine digits, over and over… give me a good acrostic any day, and a humble pencil with a clean eraser! Great one, Viv. Amy
http://sharplittlepencil.com/2013/01/14/the-royal-pain/
Cute poem
Hee hee, This is so witty and clever. I love it!
Ha! I like your ending.
It’s all so true.
I love this, Viv. You have such a wry sense of humour.
Pamela
I love this! Especially as I have similar thoughts re Sudoku and other mind-numbing exercises…I don’t find wordling quite as crazy-making usually, for which I’m thankful. You came to mind yesterday as we were perusing the apartment we rented in Vence 3 years ago – still very reasonable at $600 euros a week in the summer, and $300 in September – it is absolutely gorgeous; all we could do to remind ourselves we’re not flush, we have a memorial to plan etc.etc. but sheesh, I do envy you your French digs. Good poem Viv, as always.
http://thepoet-tree-house.blogspot.ca/2013/01/line-breaks.html
Oh! his poem is so good. A creative and intelligent take.
Poor ol’ sudoku, cast aside as boredom.
Fabulous poem, Viv.
Loved the words”soulless numbers”:-)Am going to use this on all my number crunching pals,ha!ha!
Beautifully written:-)
True enough – but I will keep doing sudoku! Sudoku keeps me sharp enough for poetry, but your method seems more sucessful!
(Stop by my blog & see if the improvements are OK)
Ha, if poetry is mental gymnastics, you are one of the great ring leaders. I love that those who do Sudoku have no words…just soul-less numbers. (I love Sudoku, just sayin’.)
Your sharp mind always delivers, Viv, I like your use of puzzles throughout the piece.
Love this Viv, for its wit and its wisdom. I don’t get Sudoku and it doesn’t bother me a bit. Give me words anyday, even wordle words,
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/once-again/
Viv- I actually laughed out loud at the ending … what a nice way to end my commenting for now and begin Sunday morning
Thank you.
I had never thought of poetry in that way and the way you laid it out in your poem is wonderful.
Gorgeous! I do like your poems on the topic of writing poetry. This one, magnifique! The first stanza, tres magnifique. Such a clever comparison. I’m with Barbara, giggling.
Love the whirl Viv! My mother does Sudoku and keeps quizzing me; math-brain-dead only child. Ugg. Work of the devil those puzzles!
I’m always amazed at what I write for the wordle. I guess that is why I continue…or to keep my mind from falling fast asleep?
If you are on the way to insanity by writing Wordle poems, then it appears you have LONG way yet to go!
Whirling with Bram Stoker
Other oldies use Sudoku to pass the time
and keep the mind alive -
a burden worse than watching paint dry
or grass grow.
haha… I’ll never get what my husband likes about sudoku… I’m a crossword/word jumble kinda gal
Giggle.
You know, you could substitute wordle words for sudoku numbers and plot out different combinations. Sudoku-sestina (nontina?)
ha – the ending made me laugh! I know that feeling when I look at the words waiting for something to click!
I do Sudoku… am I old…??
a mere stripling, so there’s hope for you yet!