Afternoon Snack
Photo by Mike Hall
A swallowtail butterfly lands on blooming cut-leaved teasel along a major throughfare in Indianapolis.
Photo by Mike Hall
A swallowtail butterfly lands on blooming cut-leaved teasel along a major throughfare in Indianapolis.
I’m not running for president or anything crazy like that, however, www.poetry.com has selected Calico Creek, a poem on the World of Words by Elias Tobias to be rated on a 1-10 scale, and those participating can win prizes. So let your vote be heard and go to http://www.poetry.com/voteforme/poemvote1.asp?PID=13167335. I’m Elias Tobias and I approve of this message.
Kidding aside, the World of Words readers should check out the growing listing of those responding to the International Poetry Link Exchange and see what other poetry bloggers are doing in their free time.
Anybody have an ID on the blue dragonfly in the photo?
Elias Tobias
Photo by Mike Hall
In my quest to get more diverse selection of Indiana wildflowers, I returned to a place where I had taken a plant I didn’t have before. It had rained that day, and the purple bloom had closed shut. (The photos I found elsewhere had it showing a pink-purple colored bloom).
Two days later I went to the same spot, and like several situations, the area had been mowed. No more horse nettle to be found by a small drainage pond. I didn’t want to waste the special trip to this place, and wanted to take a photograph. Then I saw this dragonfly return to the same brown stem several times. It was as though it was posing for me. I set the camera for macro, and got this clear, detailed, unedited, uncropped shot of the thing. I don’t know what kind it is, but maybe that doesn’t matter. Just getting the shot counts, so other people could see that moment of time happening only less than five minutes away from busy five-lane road.
If anyone know what kind of dragonfly it is, just out of curiosity, me me know at contact(at)eliastobias(dot)net.
The symphony, a community of instruments,
plays variations of a theme and a group of instruments rests, for a moment
or a measure, creating a vacuum.
This void remains empty long enough for other instruments to
make their musical statements.
Like musical punctuation, the slighted rest period finishes part of a thought,
and the whole of the statements,
makes a musical essay with a central theme with thousands of notes.
It is always easier to go,
Than it is find a way to stay.
It is impossible to know
What choice is the right way.
My love for you will grow,
But I’ll hurt if you stray
From where you call home.
Make your decision today.
Now don’t think you are right
And that I’m all wrong.
I’m trying to avoid a fight,
One that can last all lifelong.
When you get to those city lights,
I’ll help you when you’re gone.
You have your goals in sight,
And really want to sing your songs.
The choice won’t be the last,
And you’ll probably feel the pain.
Your future becomes your past,
And have only your fortune to gain.
If you run your life too fast,
You’ll face storms and the rain,
And even need some cash
To back your claim to fame.
Alone in the corner the white clock stands,
unusual because it doesn’t have hands.
It remains silent, but time continues still.
Life goes on according to God’s will.
I spent the weekend with my in-laws in Richmond, Ind., and went to Glen Miller Park for the annual Fourth of July fireworks display. The event drew a large crowd, and it had vendors providing food and refreshment to those who could afford it. All the people gathered in chairs and on blankets along a hill to see the show on the ground and in the air. Below is one of the better still photos. Click on the photo to go to You Tube to see a video of the event. While you are there, check out the other videos made for the World of Words by Elias Tobias.
I hope everyone had a fun, safe Fourth of July.
Photo by Mike Hall
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.
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.
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