October 2009 newsletter

Newsletter for the World of Words by Elias Tobias

Increase in readership is phenomenal

The slogan, “A poetry blog worth reading,” is a true statement for the World of Words by Elias Tobias. The August  2009 average daily unique visitors rate was 1.95 million. The date with the highest readership was Aug. 27, 2009 with 2,150,319 unique daily visitors.  The highest number of pageviews that month was on Aug. 12 with 5,178,666. In September, the site celebrated its 11th anniversary of continuous Internet publishing. On Sept. 8, 2008, this site became registered with Blogtopsites.com and on that day there were 23,563 unique visitors and 38,870 pageviews with the World of Words by Elias Tobias.  What a difference a year makes!

On Sept. 8, 2009, the total unique visitors to the World of Words by Elias Tobias were 386,694,148 and the readers had a total of 845,974,146 pageviews.  The percentage of increase is phenomenal…a 609 percent in unique daily visitors and 480 percent in daily pageviews.  Over the year there were an average of 1,059,436 daily unique vistors and average of 2,317,737 daily page views. At 2.1 million unique visitors daily, there are 24.3 different viewers coming to the World of Words every second.  The goal of having an average daily unique visitor rate  of 2.5 million by December of 2009 in well within reach. Click on the new World of Words by Elias Tobias logo to see the current statistics.

The Sneaky Stapleopegus

Written by Mike Hubbert
I am posting this after The Renegade Paper Clip
dated August 15,2009

The Sneaky Stapleopegus

In the shadows of my office
by the pads and pencils lay
the Sneaky Stapleopegus
just passing time away
each ruler and eraser
and lonely paper clip
know too well the pain
inflicted by his mouthy grip..

The papers in their stacks so neat
make sure they stay away
but if there’s only one of you
I think that you’re ok..
he goes for pages two and three
but loves it when there’s more
the Sneaky Stapleopegus
one day ate twenty-four!

Thanks for the poem. Other readers are encouraged to send their poems to be published free in the World of Words Open Poetry Forum.   Poems submitted in Spanish with English translations are needed, too. Just send the poem to contact@eliastobias.net.

A Journey To The Heart

Written by Mike Hubbert
aka The Poetry Man
 

A Journey To The Heart

It’s hard for me to write love lines
that grab you from the start
that takes you on a journey
to a place they call the heart
For me the choice of words comes slow
as I take pen in hand
to capture what I want to say
in words you’ll understand
My thoughts, my hopes, my dreams
and prayers, are riding on each line
and If I’ve done my job tonight
each verse will flow like wine
To you my Love, I give this poem
with sadness, I depart
with hopes this journey took you
to a place they call the heart

To read this poem in Spanish, click here.

Thanks for the poem. Other readers are encouraged to send their poems to be published free in the World of Words Open Poetry Forum.  Poems submitted in Spanish with English translations are needed, too. Just send the poem to contact@eliastobias.net.

Dream

Dream

Age, silent thief of innocence,
A face ravaged with the lines of time
Murky eyes speak without words of a stolen youth.
Memories, play like old home movies, black and
white images moving out of time like phantoms on
the wall.  The buzzing silence is interrupted by the
ticking of the projector.

As the sky glows crimson, fading with the sun’s
descent sounds of the night grow louder,
shadows of the tree stretch across the land
covering it in serenity, the cool night
breeze gently carry the soft whisper and
prayers of children in their beds, twisting and
twirling, on their way to infinity.

 by Melissa Johnson

Readers encouraged to participate in free open poetry forum

 The purpose of any blog is to go beyond a static Web site and work to get feedback from the site’s readers. One way this Web site can perform this function is through an open poetry forum. Imagine a small café with a large corner stage large enough for a small band, but this time it has a solitary microphone and a high bar-style chair. It’s open mike night at the neighborhood coffeehouse with an audience relaxing to favorite flavors of tea, coffee or other beverages.

The open poetry forum on Elias Tobias World of Words is this coffeehouse where readers of the Web site can become participants by submitting poems for view by other readers, and the great thing about his coffeehouse is that it will always be open, beverage not included. There are a few rules, of course. The poems can be on most any subject using and form or style (or lack thereof), in English, and must be original material by the author making the submission. Length can vary, but not be more than 30 or 35 lines.

The poems can be emailed to contact(at)eliastobias(dot)net. and they will be reviewed by the webmaster. Sharp, clear head shots may accompany a poem with a brief background of the author. Only one poem should be sent at a time, so send the best shot. Like most public Web sites, such as those connected with state universities, poetry will not be accepted if it is: 1. Racist or discriminatory to any race, ethnicity or country of origin. 2. Sexually explicit or pornographic. 3. Extremely violent in nature or it displays excessive use of profanity. 4. Terroristic in nature or supportive of terrorist activity.

After a poem from an author, other than Elias Tobias, is posted, the author retains further publishing rights, and only first publishing rights are claimed by this Web site since the entire contents are copyrighted by the Webmaster. Like poems submitted to the open poetry forum, comments about may be sent to contact(at)eliastobias(dot)com, and must conform to restrictions to those for poetry submitted.

Whether the comments are positive or negative, it is the hope the open poetry forum that the comments are fair and constructive so people can become better writers. For now, the open poetry forum will be free. So get your ideas and pens ready for the open poetry forum.

Newsletter for the World of Words by Elias Tobias

   Photo by Mike Hall

Happy New Year!

Howdy from Elias Tobias and Patty,
It’s time to change the calendars around the house and the office.  A new year is upon us.  Plans have been penciled on  the calendar dates, but there is time for those events to be changed.  The theme for this month will be a new year, with all its potential and uncertainty. 

People have lost jobs and other fear for loss of employment.  I will continue to teach at Ivy Tech in the Spring Semester and start to take classes to work toward requirements for continued employment.  The good news is the college will pay for the classes, eventually.  I just have to pass the classes first.  Learning is a good thing. Patty is comfortable with her job, the reason we can back to Indiana.  The cold weather has been a significant adjustment compared to Laredo, Texas.  I just buy more coats and sweaters.
As far as the the World of Words by Elias Tobias goes, I will continue the things that seem to work, including the Spanish poems, Palabras de Inspracioñ, and add new things, like Mike’s Book Cafe, and the Trivia Quiz. Older features, such as the Open Poetry Forum, the International Poetry Link Exchange, free posters and videos on You Tube will continue to complete the web blog.

Reading in Fun-damental

The gift of reading is a gift that keeps on giving, long after the Christmas presents have been opened.  The best presents are free and there are hundred of books online for no cost from a variety of sources.  So when it’s cold outisde, and you have time on your hands, fix yourself a cup of coffee and then pick up a book or anthology of poems and relax.   Click on the Mike’s Book Cafe and go to the links on the Internet to start reading.

World of Words has first Trivia Quiz

Test your knowledge and skill of the World Of Words by Elias Tobias web blog, and take the blog’s Trivia Quiz for fun.  No prizes are involved, though. No points for merchandise are available since everything on this web site is already free. Use the search box to help find information from all posts.  Click on the logo to go to the quiz.

  Poem of the Month

Behind the Christmas card

There is a picture of a large house
and cars in front, all covered in snow,
and the multi-color lights on the house
 and in the lawn put on a  grand show,
but  there are secrets spoken that
only family members should know.
There was a child born there that
compared to the others, wasn’t the same.
Records hidden in the safe might reveal
that he was born under a different name.
For some people there might be a bad case
of guilt and a sprinkle of shame;
but it is never told who is really to blame.
The smiles are shared during the season,
and hiding the truth is a fun game as
parties are given and presents exchanged.
So have a merry Christmas, the inside of card
 says, and a have a happy new year.
Sing praises of auld lang syne, and have
another one of the imported beers.

Alentó a los lectores a participar en abierto libre de poesía foro

  El objetivo de cualquier blog es ir más allá de un sitio Web estático y trabajar para obtener retroalimentación de los lectores del sitio. Una forma de este sitio Web puede realizar esta función es a través de un foro abierto de poesía. Imagine un pequeño café con un gran ángulo fase lo suficientemente grande para un pequeño grupo, pero esta vez tiene un solitario y un micrófono de alta bar de estilo silla. Está abierto Mike noche en el barrio café con una audiencia de relax a favoritos sabores de té, el café u otras bebidas.

El foro abierto sobre la poesía Elias Tobias Mundial de las palabras es este café, donde a partir 1 de marzo de 2007, los lectores del sitio Web puede convertirse en participantes mediante la presentación de poemas para ver por otros lectores, y la gran cosa acerca de su café es que siempre será abierto, bebidas no incluidas. Existen algunas reglas, por supuesto. Los poemas pueden ser en la mayoría de cualquier tema y utilizando la forma o estilo (o falta de ella), en Inglés, y debe ser material original por el autor hace la presentación. Longitud puede variar, pero no más de 30 o 35 líneas.

Los poemas pueden ser enviados a contact(at)eliastobias(dot)net. y que será revisado por el webmaster. Sharp, claro disparos cabeza puede acompañar un poema con un breve de antecedentes del autor. Sólo un poema debe enviarse en un momento, a fin de enviar el mejor tiro. Como la mayoría de los sitios Web públicos, como los relacionados con las universidades estatales, la poesía no será aceptada si es: 1. Racistas o discriminatorios de cualquier raza, origen étnico o país de origen. 2. Sexualmente explícito o pornográfico. 3. Extremadamente violentos en la naturaleza o muestra el uso excesivo de la blasfemia. 4. Terrorista en la naturaleza o de apoyo de la actividad terrorista.

Después de un poema de un autor, que no sean Elias Tobias, se publica, el autor conserva más derechos de publicación, y sólo los primeros derechos de publicación son reclamadas por este sitio ya que todo el contenido está protegido por derechos de autor por el Webmaster. Al igual que los poemas presentados a la poesía foro abierto, acerca de los comentarios pueden ser enviados a contacto (at) eliastobias (punto) com, y deberán ajustarse a las restricciones a los de poesía presentado.

Si los comentarios son positivos o negativos, es la esperanza de la poesía foro abierto que los comentarios sean justos y constructivos para que las personas puedan convertirse en mejores escritores. Por ahora, el foro abierto de poesía será libre. Por ello, ¡sus ideas y plumas listos para abrir el foro de poesía.

Para ver la versión original en inglés, haga click aquí. 
 

Readers encouraged to participate in free open poetry forum

 The purpose of any blog is to go beyond a static Web site and work to get feedback from the site’s readers. One way this Web site can perform this function is through an open poetry forum. Imagine a small café with a large corner stage large enough for a small band, but this time it has a solitary microphone and a high bar-style chair. It’s open mike night at the neighborhood coffeehouse with an audience relaxing to favorite flavors of tea, coffee or other beverages.

The open poetry forum on Elias Tobias World of Words is this coffeehouse where starting March 1, 2007, readers of the Web site can become participants by submitting poems for view by other readers, and the great thing about his coffeehouse is that it will always be open, beverage not included. There are a few rules, of course. The poems can be on most any subject using and form or style (or lack thereof), in English, and must be original material by the author making the submission. Length can vary, but not be more than 30 or 35 lines.

The poems can be emailed to contact(at)eliastobias(dot)net. and they will be reviewed by the webmaster. Sharp, clear head shots may accompany a poem with a brief background of the author. Only one poem should be sent at a time, so send the best shot. Like most public Web sites, such as those connected with state universities, poetry will not be accepted if it is: 1. Racist or discriminatory to any race, ethnicity or country of origin. 2. Sexually explicit or pornographic. 3. Extremely violent in nature or it displays excessive use of profanity. 4. Terroristic in nature or supportive of terrorist activity.

After a poem from an author, other than Elias Tobias, is posted, the author retains further publishing rights, and only first publishing rights are claimed by this Web site since the entire contents are copyrighted by the Webmaster. Like poems submitted to the open poetry forum, comments about may be sent to contact(at)eliastobias(dot)com, and must conform to restrictions to those for poetry submitted.

Whether the comments are positive or negative, it is the hope the open poetry forum that the comments are fair and constructive so people can become better writers. For now, the open poetry forum will be free. So get your ideas and pens ready for the open poetry forum.

How to have a free poetry blog in three easy steps or claiming your homestead on the wild frontier of the Internet

By Elias Tobias
For serious writers, there comes a time when various types of contests, open poetry nights,  and sharing works to friends and family are just aren’t enough.
Publishing a book with a traditional concept, even with publishing-on-demand companies on the Internet, still takes some sort of cash investment.  Self-publishing is how many great writers received their start, and it remains an option, if money is available.  Like the open ranges of the Old West, the Internet offers alternatives to getting published without great costs for writers.
One option is to start a free poetry blog, and it can be done in three basic steps.  First, decide what kind of blog will be created. Then get a free quality host that offers an independent e-mail option, and then third, maintain and promote the web site through personal and online network techniques.
Getting Started
     I was at this point 10 years ago when I started my World of Words by Elias Tobias.  I had a computer full of poems I wanted the world to read, and I realized I wasn’t going to get paid for it.  Unless the writer can arrive at a way to get advertising on the web site in an appealing manner, forget the money reward.  Getting exposure may lead to being paid as a professional in the future.
Some people are afraid that the work maybe stolen, copied or used without their permission.  That is a reality for all Internet content, and all blog content is basically copyrighted, except U.S. government sites, which is in the public domain.  There is a modest fee to register a copyright for a web site for those who want to make blanket coverage for their work.  Of course, all content featured and not original material should be cited to protect the copyrights of other authors of record.
Before hitching up a wagon at the Independence, Missouri, of the Internet, even with the call of “Go West Young Man (or Woman)” ringing in your ear, think about the type of audience to be sought.  On the Internet, there is certainly the good, bad and the ugly, so think of how the blog should be viewed.  It needs boundaries.  I have mine rated G. Content can’t be libelous, racist or discriminatory to any race, ethnicity or country of origin, sexually explicit or pornographic, extremely violent in nature or display excessive use of profanity,  or terroristic in nature or supportive of terrorist activity.  Some of this usually ends up in some form as a privacy policy for the web blog.
Erik Deckers, director of sales and marketing at Vision Direct in Indianapolis, Indiana, has become a renowned blogger and social networker. Since information on the Internet has a way of staying around a long time, don’t be negative about other people and situations, he suggested. The whole world may be watching what is posted anywhere on the medium, including videos, and you don’t want to end up as the subject of a story on the TV news.
I have a test of credibility, called the Mother-in-Law test.  My mother-in-law occasionally responds to me via e-mail about something posted, so I know she reads it.  I need to look good as a son-in-law, so I figure if what I put on my web blog is acceptable to her, the world is at my feet.
Also, words and images on the Internet are published, like a newspaper.  Articles can be deleted on blogs, but once the message goes out, the deleting work won’t always repair damage already done.  Also, work must be proofread. I have learned that from experience. Typos and inconsistent style on the web blog are items that can also damage the credibility of a person’s work.  The blog is a reflection of that person, seen 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Getting technical, sort of
Loaded with a wagon full of supplies, poems, thoughts, ideas, it’s time to hitch your wagon to the stars, or Oregon, whichever comes first.  Aware of the outlaws, ruffians, changes in the weather, a variety landscapes and other obstacles, you strike out on your own, along with other hundreds of people who have their own wagons in the wagon train.
Deckers has his favorite blog creation web sites among the many available today.
“I recommend, especially from someone who is not real computer savvy and they don’t want to spend a lot of time on it, www.blogger.com/ or www.blogspots.com/.  There is not much you need to do. You need to pick out a name for the blog. They even check to see if that is available for you. Then you pick out your theme, and that is actually the hardest part. You pick out the colors you want. Not only can you pick the layout, but you can select the colors that appear for background, text, etc,” Deckers said.
He said the name of the web blog should be original and contain the name of the thing you want to be known for.  My title, World of Words by Elias Tobias” is exactly what I wanted to say in a title.  If poetry is the main aspect of the web blog, the keyword ”Poetry” should be in the title.  If the name of the writer is more important, the name should be in the title since search engines use keywords in titles for locating the new web blog.
With these two favorite beginning blog sites, there are two advantages over others, besides being free, Deckers said. First, they are owned by Google, which means the new blog is likely to be rated higher at first when the blog debuts, and to get the blog, you need to sign up for G-Mail, another service owned by Google, for another e-mail contact for the new blog.  He did not recommend using a personal or work e-mail account for the blog.
An option for those who want a more direct route to the web blog with their web address is to buy a domain name from www.godaddy.com or another name registration site, and the yearly fee for this is usually $8 to $15, Decker said.
“You can do that, and I recommend it. You can do it fairly cheaply, but that won’t stop you from having a blog. This is useful if you are really trying to create something you want to be known for, whether it’s a product or an art form,” Deckers said. “If a person is doing this for fun, I would not knock yourself out trying to buy http://www.poetry.com/ or http://www.indianapoetry.com/. Something may be available, but there are so many people doing this that I’m sure that everystatepoetry.com is taken.  You might have to do ‘Indianadot poetryblog.com.’ “
As of Oct. 8, 2008, http://www.indianapoetry.com/ is still available, by the way.
A regional or geographic name included in the title of the web blog can not only add variety, but make the blog stand out in that region or area for search engines on the Internet, he said.  A localized blog name attracts viewers looking for topically specific sites for that area. If the title included “Poetry” and “Indianapolis,” it would be easier for a person to find poetry web blog in Indianapolis.
For the more technically minded, Deckers recommended Word Press for another blog creation site.  It has plug-ins, or programs that can be included to add functionality to the web blog.
Now that the journey to start a web blog is about to the Oklahoma Territory by now, and you have survived the pouring rain and hot days, the journey is really just getting started.  The site has been created and now it’s time for the reason why you got this far, to publish your work.  Categories can started as books, as I have on my web blog.  Static pages for things which don’t change can be set up, and these are good for biographies, since readers want to know more about the people writing the poems.  Any privacy policy can be established.  Content can be discussed around the nightly camp fires with other fellow travelers and their wagons in the wagon train.
Feedback is important to blogger, so a good e-mail with spam filter capabilities is needed to stay in contact, and Deckers said G-mail would be preferred over free e-mail accounts from places like Yahoo because of the spam problem. One tip he gave to stop much spam to begin with is how the link is set up on the blog.  Automatic spam programs look for the “@” symbol in the e-mail address. Spelling out the e-mail address will  help prevent this problem, and the link should be written out as “eliastobias(at)gmail(dot)com” within any text content.
Getting the words out
Somewhere about now, some of the people in the wagon train have decided to settle along the way or maybe heard of greener pastures in California, so the number of wagons headed north to Oregon may be smaller.
Choices are being made with your web blog that deal with content. How you set up your blog pages will determine how often search engines find them in the Wild West of the Internet.  Use of videos can greatly improve your visibility, and a link to YouTube can bring unlimited number of videos to your viewers, Decker said.  Many PC’s have built–in movie-making type program to create simple, but effective videos from video clips or still pictures. Be aware of copyright issues here from work (including music) that is not in the public domain.
I have nine videos associated with The World of Words by Elias Tobias.  Decker said that inbound and outbound links increase the networking profile of the web blog. Outbound links to other web sites show that web blog is connected to other sites, and inbound links from other web sites will complete the cycle and bring people to your web blog.  I have the International Poetry Link Exchange to offer new poetry bloggers to those who put a link to the World of Words blog.
Using the Notepad function on the PC’s can remove all pre-existing format issues.  The process is easy. Copy the text, probably written in MS Word, paste it in Notepad.  The copy the text in Notepad (as plain text), and paste it into the content area of the blog.  All preset formatting styles on the blog will then apply to the content.
The more activity on the blog will give the blog a higher Internet rating since bloggers like fresh material, Decker said. Entries should be made at least once a week, and they don’t have to be long.  A good 200 words will do just fine.  Two entries a week are better and daily is the best way.  Those who write every day usually set up a week’s worth of blogs as drafts, and then post them each day as if they are new, he said.  I usually have two or three poems per week ready to go as drafts. It saves time.
After typing the title of the page in the blog, repeat the title in the text of the blog.  This will help gain search engine exposure.  Bold facing the title won’t do much for the page, except look better graphically, Decker said.  By going into the HTML through the HTML button on the blog page, change the headline in the text a larger font size.  Put  brackets<> before and after the headline with H3 in the first bracket and /H3 in the second. It should look like this:

Title of article

on the page. This change will get the attention of the search engines and more traffic to the page.
Don’t forget the impact of networking, either person to person, or via the Internet.  Business cards with the web blog logo can be made by popular easy to use desktop publishing programs and good quality card stock with perforated edges that pop out cleanly from the page. Also, they can be ordered on the Internet for free at Vista Print, with paid shipping and handling.  Hand the cards out an every opportunity.  Internet blogs like Smaller Indiana are networking sites with other bloggers, and genuine comments on their sites can bring traffic to your site, Decker said.  Mentioning an event with more information at your blog address will increase traffic to your web site, he suggested.
Another way to get attention is to publish press releases for free on the Internet, and I recommend prlog.org.  There are others out there, but at Prlog, you can register and links to the web blog are included for free (that word again).  Put the press releases, by date, in a special place on the web blog for others to use.
Home Sweet Home
Now you have arrived at your destination, and it is time to built your cabin by the stream and be a pioneer in the Wild West of the Internet with your new poetry blog.
Build reader interest by getting the readers involved. The World of Words is set up to be more than just another poetry blog.  The World of Words by Elias Tobias has several free opportunities for its readers to become part of the web blog.  First, it is very easy to send a comment about any poem on the screen. Your course content can be individualized to make the character of the web blog all your own.
On my Web site, go to the right side of the page and see link to the free poetry first-aid section, the free poetry forum for  those have poems to submit to others to read,  free poetry posters, links to other poetry Web sites, free tips about how to get published, free poetry writing lessons, and even a short story that makes for good bed-time entertainment. Have opportunities for promotion from others by offering downloadable screensavers and such.
Poems and photographs on the web blog are put together in electronic books.  Look on the right side of the page and see the categories.  There are several books to read.  The titles include: Love Notes, Figments of My Reality, 99% Fat Free Elias-Brand Poetry, My 60 Favorite Poems, Color My World, Words on the wall: Mental Grafitti , Grace and Glory and Palabras de Inspiración, the set of poems on Spanish.  Each book has a different theme and the books grow with each blog entry since the poems are logged in to the books when they are posted. As an added bonus, most of the poems in the Love Notes have audio tracks so that you can hear Elias Tobias read the poems aloud.
A monthly newsletter can be a useful tool for a poetry blog, and I have The Exponet, a newsletter that introduced a theme of writing for each month, along with other information.   Your course content should be individualized to develop the character of the web blog.
In time, the cabin will grow into a home as you include more information and way to get people to enjoy what you have to offer.   If there are any questions about this article or topic, please contact me at contact(at)eliastobias(dot)com.

Newsletter for the World of Words by Elias Tobias 

World of Words by Elias Tobias celebrates a decade on the Internet 

During the last decade, the poetry web site, The World of Words by Elias Tobias, has created a small, but loyal international fan base.  September 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the poetry web site by Michael D. Hall in Brownsville, Texas. The writer has used Elias Tobias as his pen name since 1991.

With the old Web site, made with Tripod with its free option, a variety of advertisements were attached to the site, but the new one has no endorsements flashing. The old Web site had from 600 to 800 page hits a month with limited promotion or regular maintenance, except for a home page redesign several year ago and the poem of the month, a feature which will be retained in the new Web site.

In February 2008, The World of Words by Elias Tobias celebrated a year with its new host. The poetry Web blob was officially launched Feb. 12, 2007. The new Web site was designed by Alejandro Quetzeri of Star IT Experts LCC with the consulting of WSI Internet & Education.

Quetzeri said the emphasis in the creation of the site is to allow the company or author of the content to be in total control of the content. The programming allows an individual to easily update the content as often as necessary, without knowing technical computer codes once the Web site is established.

“It’s easy to work with,” Tobias said about maintaining the Web site. “It just takes time to get the main content set up and work with it on a regular basis. It needs to be fresh to maintain reader interest.”

Many of the goals of the new poetry blog have been accomplished.  Audio was started for the Love Notes collection, and more poem books have been added.  More pages were added including Poetry First-Aid along with more biographical information about Elias Tobias and the use of photographs and graphics.  Several videos promoting the web blog are available through YouTube.

Spanish Poems are latest addition
A new book or category, Words of Inspiration or “Palabras de Inspiración,” is being created on the World of Word by Elias Tobias poetry web blog and one poem by Elias Tobias will be featured each week on the site.

“After living on the border of Texas for 16 years, I know that a world of Hispanic culture includes creative writing, and that in my mind, means poetry,” Tobias said. “”Hispanics have a very colorful and imaginative literature tradition.”

The poems for the new book were previously published in the Spanish-language newspaper section of The Brownsville Herald in Brownsville, Texas.  Each poem on the poetry weblog will be linked to its English cousin, for those who want to switch back and forth.

Armed with 30 or so poems by Elias Tobias already translated, the shift to help meet poetic needs the Hispanics world wide will be accomplished with the new book or category, “Palabras de Inspiración,” on the World of Word by Elias Tobias poetry weblog.

Much of the credit of the new book goes to Santos Garcia, the news editor of the Spanish publication of the Brownsville Herald, who initially translated and published the poems. Sandra Toledo, a Spanish instructor has been preparing the Spanish-language pages for publication in the poetry blog.

For more information, go to contact(at)eliastobias.net.

For full PDF version, click here.

 Courtesy Photo 

School’s Starting: The Assignment

The pools are closing after Labor Day, and the last splash will quickly become a memory as the new school year starts for new students to college students finishing their degrees.  Education with be the theme for September at the World of Words by Elias Tobias, and like any good teacher, I have an assignment for my readers. Write a poem and sent it to the Free Open Poetry Forum for other to read. It can even be a poem written for class. It’s a two for one deal.

If you need some help to get started, a good teacher would not make an assignment without something to read. I won’t be the exception. I have four lessons under Poetry Writing Tips in the categories part of this web site.  So get started. 

Download the “Save the earth” poster

The environmental movement that began in the 1960s is still alive and growing into the 21st century. You can express your support the movement by downloading this poster image taken by Mike Hall, and use it to express your concern for the environment.  To get the full image, click here or click on the thumbnail photo.  Go to “Save the Trees” poem  post on this blog  that initally published the poster offer.

Spanish – language poems being prepared

The new book or category, Words of Inspiration or Palabras de Inspiración, is being created and pages are being set for publication. One poem by Elias Tobias will be featured each week.  The poems were previously published in the Spanish-language newspaper section of The Brownsville Herald, in Brownsville, TX.  Each poem will be linked to its English cousin, for those who want to switch back and forth.  For PDf of full release, click here.

Mental Grafitti: Words on the Wall

The World of Words by Elias Tobias will continue poems for a new book or poetry category, Mental Grafitti: Words on the Wall.  This will be a collection of thoughts that at first may be random, however the common theme will be poems that are similar to the artwork of those who paint their thoughts with spray cans on walls and train cars. They are saying this is who I am, and this is where I am at this time in my life.  Its the art of the common people.

 Poem of the Month

Childhood

We were children when life was a living play.
We were learning new things everyday.
There wasn’t anything we couldn’t do or say.
There was a chance we could get our way.
Hopes of tomorrows became memories of yesterday.
Our models were transformed from colored clay.

With each sacred sunrise of each day,
my hope is the feelings of my youth will stay
in my heart and in my mind. I can only pray
I won’t be smothered by responsibility today.
There seems to be a mountain of bills to pay.
I will be free of my obligations someday.

Newsletter for the World of Words by Elias Tobias

Celebrate the Fourth of July
 One third of the summer is gone, and I’m not sure where it went. One thing is for sure, though, and that is July is a time to celebrate not just summer, but the founding of theUnited States of America.  Fly the flag on the Fourth of July, and while you enjoy fireworks that day,  remember those who have fought to make sure this country remains what it is and can be in the future.

 Summer of Fun 

The theme for the remaining two months at the World of Words by Elias Tobias is Summer of Fun. Words and photos will illustrate this theme, and readers are invited to send their summer snapshots via e-mail with basic caption information, and published with the new Summer Snapshots logo by sending pictures to The World of Words at eliastobias2002(at)yahoo(dot)com.

 Books available
The World of Words is set up to be more than just another poetry blog.  Poems and photographs put together in electronic books.  Look on the right side of the page and  see the categories. The titles include: Love Notes, Figments of My Reality, 99% Fat FreeElias-Brand Poetry, My 60 Favorite Poems, Color My World and Grace and Glory.

As an added bonus, most of the poems in the Love Notes have audio tracks so thatyou can hear Elias Tobias read the poems aloud. That’s cool. Also under the category heading are other choices like free poetry writing tips,  Poems of the Month and easy access to all the monthly Exponent newsletters.
 International Poetry Link Exchange

To be a success in any venture, it helps to know people, the insiders. The new International Poetry Link Exchange at the World of Words by Elias Tobias may help those promising poets the initial exposure needed. Thousands of people around the world have their own poetry blogs or Web sites.

Most cable companies or providers that provide Internet service have a part of the service which allows customers to create at least one personal web site. Independent hosts have free or low cost web site opportunities what are create to be poetry Web site.

This page is dedicated as an international poetry link exchange to create a network of links for those who have poetry Web site or other link exchanges.  Readers are offered a free opportunity to have other appropriate links on this Web blog in exchange for placing a link for the World of Words by Elias Tobias on their Web blog or site. This Exchange is a companion page to the existing Poetry Links Page on the World of Words at eliastobias.net.
To get started with the International Poetry Link Exchange, all that needs to be done is simply send an e-mail to eliastobias2002(at)yahoo(dot)com,and request a link exchange.

Include your name, and the name of the site along with the link to be exchanged.  Also include at attachments of art, photos, or logos to go along with the exchange link.  The site will be checked out, and if approved, will be posted on the Exchange page by clicking here. That’s it, except to post the link on the other Web blog or site once the site is on the Exchange page.

  Poem of the Month

Ancient Curse

While I was making a sand castle on a summer day,
I found a foreign looking bottle.

Eager to see through the glass,
I wiped the sand away, and then a
strange bearded man appeared before me.
He said I was his master, and I had three wishes.
For each of them I wished for three more,
and from each of  those, I wish for three more.
I stopped my sand castle to make a list
of wishes in the order to achieve
material success in life, and he agreed.

Then he told me a story of how he
was once free like me, and then was put
under a spell to serve greedy masters
as an ancient curse centuries old.
I asked if he had amazing powers,
why was he still held captive to his soul.
It was written in the Rules of the Sand
his abilities were never violated.
Those who tried paid the price, he said.
He had to use his powers for others.

I used my last wish on my list to
Set him free to be himself, and he walked away.

To read this poem in Spanish, click here.