Newsletter for the World of Words by Elias Tobias

Change theme for November

Just as the trees change their colors, November is a time for change.  Elections determine new leaders for our country.  The harvests of crops signal the end of one season, and the start of another.  The theme from last month was chaos and confusion.  This condition lasts until, in the natural scheme of life, there is some new order, bringing change. Some call it evolution. Poems published on the World of Word by Elias Tobias will reflect this theme of change.

First National Red Dot Day is November 7, 2008

If there is a justifiable cause or reason to celebrate, there is a national month, day, or week dedicated to that particular cause or celebration.  Through time and acts of Congress, some events have become traditions that are uniquely American. I would like to add another day to celebrate to the calendar.  Nov. 7 should be National Red Dot Day, and this year it lands on a Friday. Click here for a poster to get the movement started. E-mail this letter and the poster to your friends.  Let the world know America is proud of its red dots.

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

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. Read entire article by clicking here or on the old cowboy photo.

 New Discussion Board debuts on World of Word by Elias Tobias

Poetically Speaking is a new discussion board created for the World of Words by Elias Tobias.  The claiming your homestead on the wild frontier of the Internet article is the first entry for this discussion board.  The purpose of the utility to to act act a general sounding board for this poetry blog and for any specific  items to be discussed about poetry and the Internet. In the future, questions by Elias Tobias will be offered for comment, and readers are offered the opportunity to send in questions for discussion on Poetically Speaking by sending an e-mail to contact(at)eliastobias(dot)net.

  Poem of the Month 

Now

Wherever you are now, is where you’re at,
and that’s a fact.
No matter what you’ve done, you can’t go back,
so don’t look back.
You can look around the corner, to see the future,
But tomorrow’s an accessory.
What is important is what is happening now,
and yesterday’s a memory.

Photo by Mke Hall

Tree branches, with leaves in changing colors, reach for the open sky at the Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The park features several trails for hiking and bike riding to view the changes in the trees in the cool fall temperatures.

Reading between the lines

You know every page of my life,
 as if you were there from the beginning,
and you know me better than I know myself.
 As each chapter unfolds, you are able
to read between lines to see through
 my words and get a full view of my soul.
I don’t want to lose you and I
 want to be with you to the end.

Dedicated to my wife, Patty. 

  Photo by Mike Hall

The changing colors of trees along the Monon Trail in Carmel, Indiana, make the run or ride along the trail a pleasant experience.

Off the Page

One important thing we learned in school
Was to be punished if we broke the rules.
We were supposed to write only on the blue lines,
And never go in the margin past the red lines,
And worst of all, don’t ever go off the page.
Then you would write on the desk,
And that would make a terrible mess,
So you’d get a chance to see the principal.

My life is a mess since I went past the desk,
And I started painting designs over the walls.
I’m the actor, down and center, who went
Past the stage with a great fall.
It all started when I went off the page.

One day I will get my life together, I guess,
And somehow find a way back to my desk.
I’ll learn to use color crayons between the lines,
But, the way things are going, I’ll need more time.

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.

New discussion board debuts on the World of Words by Elias Tobias

Poetically Speaking is a new discussion board created for the World of Words by Elias Tobias.  The “Claiming your homestead on the wild frontier of the Internet“ article is the first entry for this discussion board.  The purpose of the utility to to act act a general sounding board for this poetry blog and for any specific  items to be discussed about poetry and the Internet. In the future, questions by Elias Tobias will be offered for comment, and readers are offered the opportunity to send in questions for discussion on Poetically Speaking by sending an e-mail to contact(at)eliastobias(dot)net.

Saco de Ilusiones

El poema “Saco de Ilusiones” fué publicado originalmente el 21 de marzo de 2003 en el periódico ‘El Heraldo de Brownsville.’ Para ver la versión original en inglés, haga click aquí.

Saco de Ilusiones

A dondequiera que voy,
Cargo mi saco de ilusiones
Con las cosas mas usuales.
Cargado de emociones.
Es un saco direrente,
De esos que nunca tiras como basura
Si tuvieras oportunidad de mirarlo,
Podria parecerte vacío.
Pero yo lo veo lleno de esperanzas y
Planes para el futuro contínuo.
Los planes podrán cambiar con el tiempo
Pero la bolsa siempre permanecerá llena conmigo.

Bag of Dreams

Wherever I go, I carry a bag of dreams
with me, along with the usual things.
It’s a different kind of bag, one that
won’t readily be thrown away, like trash.
If you should get a chance to see it,
it may look empty inside, but to me it is
full of hopes and plans for the future.
These goals may change over
time, but the bag will always be full.

To read this poem in Spanish, click here.

A Fool in Paradise

A fool in paradise doesn’t
think about where he wa1ks
or what he ta1ks about
because he’s control1ed
by selfish thoughts.
Steps in the wrong way
won’t make the utopia last
and the memories,
painful or pleasant,
will just be a part of his past.
He won’t be a fool,
and he will not be in paradise.