I'm like a pencil;
sometimes sharp,
most days
well-rounded,
other times
dull or
occasionally
broken.
Still I write.
j.g. lewis
is a writer/photographer in Toronto.
Month: April 2017
How You Play
It is hard to say it’s not a game, when
so many rules are sort of the same. Life
is much like Scrabble, you must play
what you are dealt. Always searching
for the right word, using what you have,
trying your best, hoping you don’t get
stuck in the end.
It’s not only how you play but what
you choose, which often determines if
you win or how you lose. Taking turns,
it is strategy that pulls you through,
other times sacrifice; not doing exactly
as you want because you don’t have
what you need.
You wait for opportunity when you have
something to say, then another player
gets in your way, or takes what is yours.
Unprepared you can’t find the words.
Sometimes there are not enough Ys
or a lot of whys, and then there are
too many I.O.U.s
04/24/17 ©j.g. lewis
Posted on April 23, 2017 by j.g.lewisLeave a comment
Dear poets and poetry lovers,
Poetry is not a trend, but rather a force in the lives of so many. I’ll refer to poetry as everything from an art form to a distraction.
I know poetry and prose has the attention of so many souls, but you never see it “trending” on social media platforms; as in you never see #poetry on the trending lists like #kanyeloveskanye #cutekitten #dogonskateboard #presidentialerror, or any of the worthy (or worthless) events that capture the imagination of those who follow life on the tiny screen.
Often (especially during Poetry Month), I will Tweet + Retweet poetry, AND encourage others to do the same. Poetry that lights us up is worth repeating, thus worth retweeting. Still, even with all the heightened activity during April, you still never see hashtags #poetry or #npm17 on the trending lists.
I think we can change that.
Now, I’m not sure how the algorhythms work, or how many Tweets it takes for a topic to “trend”, but we can all do something to influence the numbers.
Next weekend, April 29 + 30 (the final days of POETRY MONTH) I ask that we band together to Tweet + ReTweet poems, poets and poetry (as many as you can, as often as you can) and use the hashtags #poetry + #npm17. These are the hashtags we regularly use (some of us more than others).
Let’s flood Twitter with words worth reading. Think of it not only as increasing attention of poetry, but raising the consciousness of this delightful form of expression.
The Twitter action has already increased over the past couple of week, and as we approach next weekend it will surely pick up (certainly if I have my way). It’s probably worth beginning this process early so we can build momentum. I’m starting now . . . and you can even ReTweet this message as you see it on your feed.
I’m on Twitter @sayit4word, include me in your Tweet . . . and I do follow back. I look forward to hearing from you, reading your Tweets, and seeing how much difference we can make in these days of trends and trending.
deep peace
j.g.l.
The LP:
a recipe for
magic, a history
of wait and see,
music trapped
for prosperity.
Yes, there have
been attempts
to unseat its
majesty: tapes –
8-track or cassette,
analogue, digital
discs to MP3.
But vinyl
is still there, a
testament to
longevity. Fate has
tested mortality,
but it has survived
technology.
Drop the needle
in the groove, listen
and believe
music soothes
the soul
convincingly.
04/22/17 © j.g. lewis
TODAY
April 22 is Record Store Day,
celebrate music, the format,
cover art, and the turntable.
PLAY ON!
