The Sister Years – I wrote this poem on the eve of New Year over two decades ago(Thanks ROG) – 31-Dec-1990. I recently read the short story ‘The Sister Years’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne here. I am not sure now if I had read this story earlier, before I wrote this poem. Anyway here it is, modified a little from its original form to include the words from 3WW(idle, nagging, pace) and for dVerse OpenLink Night, ABCWednesday’s letter Y as it is still a new year (though not Dec 31st).
The Sister Years
Another Year has
passed
passed
And given way to a new
one
one
And as the two years
Sit aside at midnight
on Dec 31
on Dec 31
They talk as sisters
do
do
The old year – the
older sister says
older sister says
“No time to be idle, young un’
You have to move at a
fast pace
fast pace
Do know, that I’m not
nagging
nagging
When I say all this
and more
and more
Your duty is to record
all that
all that
Happens during your
stay
stay
And don’t ever forget
To accept things as
they come your way
they come your way
Just do your duty and
fare well
fare well
Do pray to the
almighty
almighty
who fills all the
tidings
tidings
Good and bad in you
That you may contain
Good tidings, happy hearts, and a peaceful world.
Good tidings, happy hearts, and a peaceful world.
For Wondrous Words Wednesday, from the wonderful book ‘Zeb and the Great Ruckus’ that I just completed reading, a couple of words:
fabulist – n.
1. A composer of fables.
2. A teller of tales; a liar.
Usage from the book ‘Flip was a fabulous fabulist. She liked to say that make-believe was reality’s better looking sister. ‘galumph – verb (used without object)
to move along heavily and clumsily.
Origin: 1872; phonesthemic invention of Lewis Carroll, perhaps blend of gallop and triumphant
fabulist – n.
1. A composer of fables.
2. A teller of tales; a liar.
Usage from the book ‘Flip was a fabulous fabulist. She liked to say that make-believe was reality’s better looking sister. ‘galumph – verb (used without object)
to move along heavily and clumsily.
Origin: 1872; phonesthemic invention of Lewis Carroll, perhaps blend of gallop and triumphant
Usage from book: ‘Half an hour later Flip galumphed into the room and proudly proclaimed: “Ready!”‘
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that it had begun.”
This line in the book reflects my feelings about Pride and Prejudice too. This book has been my nemesis, literally, since the first time I picked it up, many years ago. Since then, I have watched countless adaptations of the book on TV, and read other books based on Pride and
Prejudice.
Prejudice.
I have read ‘Mansfield Park’, ‘Sense and Sensibility’, ‘Emma’, and more, but never P & P. I almost always stopped around page 33 of the book (yes, really, page 33) and always wondered
why – maybe something else happened, as it does for me with most books that I give up reading half way through. But this time, I was determined to go past page 33 and make it to the end, and aren’t I glad I did? You bet, I am!!
why – maybe something else happened, as it does for me with most books that I give up reading half way through. But this time, I was determined to go past page 33 and make it to the end, and aren’t I glad I did? You bet, I am!!
P&P is the reason for so much – every female wants a Mr.Darcy in their lives and strives to be more like Elizabeth. So many spinoffs, sequels, adaptations of P&P came about as also movies and TV series on P&P as well as on those zillions of spinoffs. So many historical romances that I read mention the heroine reading Jane Austen (and many of the contemporary novels too).
It seems that almost everyone has the same feelings for the characters in the book. This just goes to show the superior character development of Jane Austen. Mrs. B is not a mom I would want while Lydia is not a sister or a friend I would wish on anyone. It is amazing how Elizabeth and Jane turned out the way they are in the book growing up in the Bennet family. The two younger Bennet sisters, the Bingley sisters, as well as Lady Catherine
round up the female characters in the book that I did not take a liking to.
round up the female characters in the book that I did not take a liking to.
The men in the book failed to make an impression as well except for, of course, Mr.Darcy, and Mr.Gardiner, Elizabeth’s uncle. I also liked Mrs.Gardiner. Every character played an important role and every part of the plot lends to it.
Goodreads has over 25000 reviews of the book and 367 results are returned when I enter Pride and Prejudice
(versions/adaptations et al) – that is just one way of seeing that it is easily one of the best-loved/read books around as well as the most made-over one.
(versions/adaptations et al) – that is just one way of seeing that it is easily one of the best-loved/read books around as well as the most made-over one.
Rating: Do I need to? Ok, A+..
Jack Wang (Adapter), Holman Wang
(Adapter), Jane Austen (Author)
(Adapter), Jane Austen (Author)
As the title says – this book is cozy, and cute! This is a great way to introduce wee ones to the classics. The perfectly picked dozen words and accompanying adorable pictures of needle-felt characters and scenes illustrate the fact that you can say a lot with little. Granted, the adult who is holding the book and relating the story to the wee one here needs to be familiar with the classic but the book still serves its purpose of being a stepping-stone to these great classics.
I am looking forward to more Cozy Classics (there is one out already – Moby Dick and two more coming out this year). These are definitely wonderful books to gift to parents of young kids as well as classic novel fans everywhere. I am going to get the actual books for myself.
The website also includes some more information for each book – a cozy version of the book if you need some
help with relating the story, cast information, quotes from the book, as well as tips for parents to tell the story. Cozy Classics brings a wonderful new dimension to board books.
help with relating the story, cast information, quotes from the book, as well as tips for parents to tell the story. Cozy Classics brings a wonderful new dimension to board books.
Thank you, Cozy Classics!!
Rating: A
Reading Level: 1 year and up
Reread Level: 5/5 (I am sure the little ones will be rereading this book many times over)
Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a digital review copy of the Cozy Classics book. This is my honest review.
For NaBloPoMo prompt of the day:
Which daily tasks take up the most of your energy?
There are three tasks that would take this position of energy suckers – laundry, dishes, and cleaning up. The following quotes as well as the poem snippet below reflect what I feel.
Part of a poem I wrote a few
weeks ago for dVerse
weeks ago for dVerse
Missing You –
The days when I could read
For hours on end
With no worries of meals to make
Or mountain-loads of laundry to fold
The only mountains I saw then
Were the ones in the stories I made
For hours on end
With no worries of meals to make
Or mountain-loads of laundry to fold
The only mountains I saw then
Were the ones in the stories I made
And of course, I wish I could do this:
Good tidings to YOU. though if you wrote it at the end of 1990, that was TWO decades ago!
oops time flies.. i think i had the feeling i was in college just a decade ago:) and that lent itself to wrong math…:) thank you Roger..
accept things as they come….good wisdom in that…and its great as well to have those life family friends that you can sit and talk with as well….nice poem for the new year…smiles.
thank you Brian… for your comments always…
It's fantastic that you finally read it and you're exactly right. We all want to be Elizabeth (well all of us women, ha ha) and we all want our Mr. Darcy. My niece just watched the Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and posted woefully on Facebook "Where, oh where is my Mr. Darcy?" What's your favorite of the film or tv adaptations?
No matter when it was written or first read, this is a meassage to be shared each new year.
truly lovely poem
Love the poem! And hope you have a Happy New Year!
Leslie
abcw team
I like the idea of the sister years.
Nicely done.
I always think of Jane Austin;
When I write a sentence;
With more than two semicolons.
Cheers!
JzB
Delightful vision of the older sister passing on good advice to the younger. Let us hope that 'junior' takes heed.