“Great Rules of Writing”

Do not put statements in the negative form.

And don’t start sentences with a conjunction.

If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a
great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.

Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.

Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all.

De-accession euphemisms.

If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

Last, but not least, avoid clichés like the plague.

~William Safire

“There may be chaos still around the world” by George Santayana

There may be chaos still around the world,
This little world that in my thinking lies;
For mine own bosom is the paradise
Where all my life’s fair visions are unfurled.
Within my nature’s shell I slumber curled,
Unmindful of the changing outer skies,
Where now, perchance, some new-born Eros flies,
Or some old Cronos from his throne is hurled.
I heed them not; or if the subtle night
Haunt me with deities I never saw,
I soon mine eyelid’s drowsy curtain draw
To hide their myriad faces from my sight.
They threat in vain; the whirlwind cannot awe
A happy snow-flake dancing in the flaw.

~George Santayana

Shadow…

“Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach.”

~J.R.R. Tolkien

“Penny’s Song” by Joss Whedon

“Here’s a story of a girl
who grew up lost and lonely,
thinking love was Fairy Tale
and trouble was made only for me.

Even in the darkness
every color can be found.
And every day of rain
brings water flowing
to things growing in the ground.

Grief replaced with pity
for a city barely coping.
Dreams are easy to achieve
if hope is all I’m hoping to be.

Anytime you’re hurt
there’s one who has it worse around.
And every drop of rain
will keep you growing
seeds you’re sowing in the ground.”

~Joss Whedon

 

“Picasso” by e.e. cummings

Picasso
you give us things
which
bulge:grunting lungs pumped full of sharp thick mind

you make us shrill
presents always
shut in the sumptuous screech of
simplicity

(out of the
black unbunged
Something gushes vaguely a squeak of planes
or

between squeals of
Nothing grabbed with circular shrieking tightness
solid screams whispers.)
Lumberman of the Distinct

your brain’s
axe only chops hugest inherent
Trees of Ego,from
whose living and biggest

bodies lopped
of every
prettiness

you hew form truly

~e.e. cummings