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Saturday, April 13, 2019

simplify simplify - Thoreau

When Thoreau writes, "simplify, simplify" in the second paragraph, he is recommending that people do as much as possible to reduce their lives down to only the necessities. Society today tells us that nothing is ever good enough and that more is better; Thoreau is telling us to challenge those standards.

Tell us what you do to simply for your life... but to make it not too simple write it in the form of an acrostic.

An acrostic poem is a type of poetry where the first, last or other letters in a line spell out a particular word or phrase. The most common and simple form of an acrostic poem is where the first letters of each line spell out the word or phrase. Be sure to capitalize the letters defining your acrostic so we can see it... example

A juicy fruit that
Pleases the eaters
Palette with crunch. A
Luxuriant treat for
Everyone to enjoy

27 comments :

  1. I know this isn't in the spirit of the prompt, but I couldn't resist...

    Did you know Thoreau could
    Only live that lifestyle--
    No attention to details
    Taking each day as it came,

    Read, ponder, reflect--because
    Eating was meals made by
    And clean clothes was laundry
    Done by, yep, his mother?

    The supposed wilderness,
    Home for two years, was built
    On land Emerson cleared, no
    Roughing it but living
    Easy. Others toiled to make
    All his work possible,
    Unacknowledged in the book.

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    1. lol... well so much for Thoreau...

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    2. Why doesn't this surprise me? It was never the way of a crank and he was obviously, though a gifted one, to give credit where credit was due. Fascinating bit of information, Thanks, so well said too.

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    1. Given my propensity to argue with strangers this would be an awesome way to simplify my life. Lol

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  3. Destiny - it is my destiny to live
    Each and every day in a
    Cluttered mess of a
    Lot of my husband's
    Useless but to him valuable stuff
    Tapes, Dvds on shelves and
    Tables. Books stacked
    Everywhere he never
    Reads. To save

    My mind I
    Yearn for a clean house but try to not

    Mind his stacks and piles that
    Inundate every space
    Nook and cranny and simply
    Decide to accept my destiny

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    1. LOL. It reminds me of the same thought process I went through raising kids, when it was impossible to get a clean house, ever.

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    2. heeyyyy tapes aren't useless. except when they snap. then you have to get tiny bits of sellotape to get them back together and eventually give up in frustration - love paul.

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    3. HA HA HA!! You make my dilemma seem mild by comparison, I think I have a junior edition of your husband. Sigh and suck it up, that's what we do. Best we can, best we can. Thanks for a delightful poem.

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  4. too many rules on this one bonita and too many kittens to look after. just do one straight up on the screen.

    EASY AS PIE

    wanna live in new york
    with sammie sitting on my face
    want peace and love for the human race
    wanna talk the way aussies talk
    meet people who walk the walk

    the more i simplify
    the more difficult it become
    went from never owning a cat
    to owning six
    eeeerrr why?
    all want cat milk in their tums
    used to have a wharf rat
    throw that in to the mix.

    my cat just had 5 kittens and i've been up for 38 hours, doing cat midwife stuff, so forgive the quality of this poem. my head is full of kittens


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    1. I like the 2nd stanza a lot. I don't think you need the first one at all. ... And the rule is only that the poem has "something to do" with prompt. Your is about simplifying without being an acrostic. Mine is an acrostic without being about simplifying. But the prompt got us both to write.

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    2. I agree with Victoria. the first stanza should be deleted. doesn't fit the rest of the poem or the prompt just a chance for you to mention the prostitute you think loved you because you paid her for sex. as for the kittens... lmbo! actually this is a time I will say poor paul! but now you know why your Snuggles was getting fat! lmbo!

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    3. it sortta goes from what i want in the first verse, to the way it is in the second verse vic. there should be an s on the end of become too - love paul.

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    4. I think we are all very tired aof seeing stuff about that woman you seem so reluctant to forget, so you will get that kind of comment from us regardless, no pun intended. I too like the second verse and consider the first one o be unnecessary. All you needed to say was that you went from difficult women to difficult felines. Except you now actually have both.

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    5. lots of difficult females in my life tash. feline and otherwise. meeting crazy amanda later and natalia is still in jail. like i always say, you'd have to have met sammie to understand...more a force of nature than a woman - many meeoowws - paul.

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  5. sammie wasn't really a prossie bonita. just like a very high maintainence ferrari....always needed her engine checked ha ha. yes. it wasn't the salmon that was upsetting purry snuggles and putting her in a bad mood. it was having a belly full of baby kittens - your cat midwife/ feline gynocologist friend - paul.

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  7. Not a Chance

    Simplify? Not a chance.
    I can't even try, because
    My efforts are immediately
    Plunged into chaos by my
    Loved and cherished, yet
    Eclectic husband who collects
    Yes whatever he lays his eyes on

    In any time or place that
    Might fortuitously
    Present itself.
    Or it may possibly be
    Saved or invested in or
    Seen to be used
    in his collage art,
    By him at some future time
    Lacking a deadline, so always and for-
    Ever available.

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    1. omg! I can so relate to this! never throw out anything because you might find use for it... some day... good write!! I can feel the frustration.

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    2. LMAO!!! Yup, that's the story of my life. I love it. Truly impossible to simplify.

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    3. Thanks, friends, I appreciate the comments.

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    4. most of my collections of stuff have been lost, or stolen over the years. still got some old comics and my hat though. funny story. a guy tried to steal my hat yesterday and i tackled him to the ground in the street...you don't mess with a man's gangster hat. everything else they could have, except the kittens - love paul.

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  8. only minutes left and worn out from kitten duties, so straight up on the screen, really fast again.

    ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

    all i need is love
    and a dove
    from above

    it gets more complicated
    the more things you have accumulated
    and to whom you are related
    and crazy ladies i have dated
    just wish the truth was always stated.

    library isn't open over easter, so it'll be a few days till i'm back. feel free to e - mail me - love paul.



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  9. thanks tash. got a bit of kitten free time today. these national holidays make things more complicated. nowhere open for a start - love paul.

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  10. Linda is having computer issues so I am posting this for her...

    Living Off The Land

    Lettuce grows more than half the year
    Inside the greenhouse for the rest
    Vegetables can be preserved
    In jars or dried and saved for a winterfest
    Giving me time to do my crafts and write

    Our life is very simple now
    First we set up solar panels
    Finished with the windmill and made a vow

    That we would find a way somehow
    Holding onto our pride
    Even when we sometimes fail

    Loving living a happy ride
    And simplifying life as best we can
    Never wondering if we’ll eat tomorrow
    Dining off the simple land.








    Loving living a happy ride

    And simplifying life as best we can

    Never wondering if we’ll eat tomorrow

    Dining off the simple land.



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    1. masterful poem!!!I am so impressed, and impressed with your homespun living. You rock!!!

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