tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post422763945697511571..comments2023-10-12T04:46:19.699-04:00Comments on The Gold Standard: Fine Writing Giveaway in Honor of National Poetry MonthGoldspot Penshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04388520620911301783noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-45088855975666731582012-04-13T13:27:37.007-04:002012-04-13T13:27:37.007-04:00Some stories are best written
out by hand,
in fi...Some stories are best written<br />out by hand,<br /><br /><br />in fine black ink with an<br />old-fashioned<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />fountain pen with a modest,<br />polished<br /><br /><br />carriage and a solid but<br />flexible nib—<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />for instance, this story<br />about how<br /><br /><br />my mother was a farmer’s<br />daughter<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />who married a lawyer twenty<br />years<br /><br /><br />her senior. They met the<br />summer she<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />tended the cash register at<br />The Midway <br /><br /><br />Restaurant and bar in a<br />sleepy northern <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />town on the coast, trying to<br />put herself<br /><br /><br />through college. When I was a<br />girl,<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />she recounted how he used to<br />come in<br /><br /><br />with the same group of his<br />friends in law<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />school, not so young men<br />newly hopeful<br /><br /><br />in a world after war, all<br />wearing suits <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />despite the infernal heat:<br />ties, cravats, one <br /><br /><br />good pen with its small gold<br />arrow clipped <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />like a talisman in the breast<br />pocket. Oh<br /><br /><br />but after food and a few<br />rounds of drink,<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />those ties were loosened, and<br />even the shyest<br /><br /><br />could make bold to stagger<br />over to the counter<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />to invite the girl with the<br />perfectly shaped brows<br /><br /><br />to sit at their table. In<br />another version of this<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />story, my mother says he threatened<br />to break<br /><br /><br />every single wineglass on the<br />counter to get<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />her attention if need be, if<br />she refused.<br /><br /><br />The rest, as they say, is<br />history. A few <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />months later, in the<br />cathedral, as family<br /><br /><br />and friends looked on (my<br />mother’s poorer<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />relations on one side of the<br />church), <br /><br /><br />they signed their vows: his<br />signature <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />looped and sprawling, hers neat<br />and upright, <br /><br /><br />every letter in its place, elegant<br />as a pin.Luisa Igloria61noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-22722700978989847232012-04-13T13:26:23.008-04:002012-04-13T13:26:23.008-04:00Some stories are best written
out by hand,
in fi...Some stories are best written<br />out by hand,<br /><br /><br />in fine black ink with an<br />old-fashioned<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />fountain pen with a modest,<br />polished<br /><br /><br />carriage and a solid but<br />flexible nib—<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />for instance, this story<br />about how<br /><br /><br />my mother was a farmer’s<br />daughter<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />who married a lawyer twenty<br />years<br /><br /><br />her senior. They met the<br />summer she<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />tended the cash register at<br />The Midway <br /><br /><br />Restaurant and bar in a<br />sleepy northern <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />town on the coast, trying to<br />put herself<br /><br /><br />through college. When I was a<br />girl,<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />she recounted how he used to<br />come in<br /><br /><br />with the same group of his<br />friends in law<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />school, not so young men<br />newly hopeful<br /><br /><br />in a world after war, all<br />wearing suits <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />despite the infernal heat:<br />ties, cravats, one <br /><br /><br />good pen with its small gold<br />arrow clipped <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />like a talisman in the breast<br />pocket. Oh<br /><br /><br />but after food and a few<br />rounds of drink,<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />those ties were loosened, and<br />even the shyest<br /><br /><br />could make bold to stagger<br />over to the counter<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />to invite the girl with the<br />perfectly shaped brows<br /><br /><br />to sit at their table. In<br />another version of this<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />story, my mother says he threatened<br />to break<br /><br /><br />every single wineglass on the<br />counter to get<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />her attention if need be, if<br />she refused.<br /><br /><br />The rest, as they say, is<br />history. A few <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />months later, in the<br />cathedral, as family<br /><br /><br />and friends looked on (my<br />mother’s poorer<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />relations on one side of the<br />church), <br /><br /><br />they signed their vows: his<br />signature <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />looped and sprawling, hers neat<br />and upright, <br /><br /><br />every letter in its place, elegant<br />as a pin.Luisa Igloria61noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-55786343431416514312012-04-13T13:25:38.953-04:002012-04-13T13:25:38.953-04:00Sorry this comment section is a little buggy for m...Sorry this comment section is a little buggy for me, please excuse multiple click-throughs. Things are simply disappearing. Anthony Connollyhttp://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=523876268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-33200535166602866442012-04-13T13:23:58.708-04:002012-04-13T13:23:58.708-04:00Hand knows what the heart seeks Lines and passages...Hand knows what the heart seeks Lines and passages furrowing the leaves To move thoughts from darkness to light Hand knows what the heart seeks Making marks to signing extraordinary fiats Missives opening spring blossoms of the soul Hand knows what the heart seeks Filled instruments both person and pen Love scribes spilling ink onto willing pageHand knows what the heart seeksTo be heard, to be heard, to be heardAnthony Connollyhttp://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=523876268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-89387243593409893792012-04-13T11:10:27.801-04:002012-04-13T11:10:27.801-04:00Hand knows what the heart seeks Lines and passages...Hand knows what the heart seeks Lines and passages furrowing the leaves To move thoughts from darkness to light Hand knows what the heart seeks Making marks to signing ardent fiats Missives opening spring blossoms of the soul Hand knows what the heart seeks Filled instruments both person and pen Love scribes spilling ink onto a willing pageHand knows what the heart seeksTo be heard, to be heard, to be heardAnthony Connollyhttp://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=523876268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-75382669673191432962012-04-13T10:42:43.315-04:002012-04-13T10:42:43.315-04:00Hand knows what the heart seeks Lines and passages...Hand knows what the heart seeks Lines and passages furrow the leaves To move thoughts from darkness to light Hand knows what the heart seeks Making marks to signing extraordinary fiats Missives opening spring blossoms of the soul Hand knows what the heart seeks Filled instruments both person and pen Love scribes spilling ink from the heartAnthony Connollyhttp://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=523876268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-56808430635279240852012-04-13T02:29:49.696-04:002012-04-13T02:29:49.696-04:00Travel of the P-51
From the piers of Shangha...Travel of the P-51<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />From the piers of Shanghai to the harbors of Hong Kong,<br /><br /><br />my grandfather carried this green and gold Parker 51.<br /><br /><br />Each day, businessmen would carry his signature to the bank,<br /><br /><br />his name a promise their ships were sailing in.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Later, my father would take the 51 to write my mother<br /><br /><br />letters of love, news, and apology. She’d receive<br /><br /><br />their promise in a crowded apartment on 7th and I.<br /><br /><br />From Hong Kong to Washington D.C.<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />I hold it now and feel the balance, the weight.<br /><br /><br />The ink vacuum had worn and the gold has turned bronze.<br /><br /><br />But a man at Fahrney’s fixed my family’s 51. And I am<br /><br /><br />left with promise. <br /><br /><br /> Raymond Chowhttp://www.facebook.com/raymond.kin.chownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-88883959089619975602012-04-12T22:40:00.295-04:002012-04-12T22:40:00.295-04:00Thank you... there just needs to be a line break a...Thank you... there just needs to be a line break after "not the instrument itself,/" (I've indicated the break with the slash/virgule.)Luisa Igloria61noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-60295515042279624682012-04-12T14:20:20.176-04:002012-04-12T14:20:20.176-04:00Time taken and hand-written
A show of love with in...Time taken and hand-written<br />A show of love with ink pen and paper<br /><br />Cursive on pure cotton rag means more<br /><br />Than a free e-card any dayDigiMikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-39597737204433887342012-04-12T14:18:57.731-04:002012-04-12T14:18:57.731-04:00Time taken and hand-writtenA show of love with ink...Time taken and hand-writtenA show of love with ink pen and paperCursive on pure cotton rag means moreThan a free e-card any dayDigiMikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-48421979784060613132012-04-12T09:50:34.862-04:002012-04-12T09:50:34.862-04:00one page flows
the next turns
a line,
a word,
tim...one page flows <br />the next turns<br />a line,<br />a word,<br />time measured <br />the scratch of a pen.bonnie jean woolgernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-82601259204804643942012-04-12T09:48:37.829-04:002012-04-12T09:48:37.829-04:00one page flows to the next
one word
one line
one d...one page flows to the next<br />one word<br />one line<br />one drawing,<br />time measured by the scratch<br />of a pen <br />and the turn of a page.bonnie jean woolgernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-46160899322622131732012-04-12T09:43:08.494-04:002012-04-12T09:43:08.494-04:00I don't believe there is a way to go back an e...I don't believe there is a way to go back an edit a comment, even as the author or administrator. I thought yours was quite lovely, even if it has format or spacing issues.Tom Oddohttp://www.facebook.com/tomoddonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-2575496298948574132012-04-11T17:08:27.744-04:002012-04-11T17:08:27.744-04:00Yes! Thank you.
I'm sure the grid in this Rh...Yes! Thank you.<br /><br />I'm sure the grid in this Rhodia notebook will help me with my spacing issues when I win. :)Charles L.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-67732867526887764002012-04-10T23:11:01.676-04:002012-04-10T23:11:01.676-04:00There really are some issues with formatting here ...There really are some issues with formatting here in the comment boxes... how can we correct them? :)Luisa A. Iglorianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-55397183694276065062012-04-10T23:10:29.191-04:002012-04-10T23:10:29.191-04:00this is the version I want to send - with the corr...this is the version I want to send - with the correct line breaks -<br /><br />When I Write To You, I Lovenot the instrument itself,<br />but the way it moves across the grainof paper: the way the lines scrollthrough misty rain, trailing the hush of bamboo forests,the solemn march of letters formed,brown rows of wild chestnutand field horsetail; the shy blushof Kosumosu fall cherries, the tenderocher of rice ears. But to tell you againof how I feel for you, I would chooseeither the vivid purple of morning glories---or better yet, a little sleeve of Murasakilaid against the backdrop of Tsuki-yo Night Sky. Luisa A. Iglorianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-19021100407301159462012-04-10T23:09:07.461-04:002012-04-10T23:09:07.461-04:00When I Write To You, I Love
not the instrument it...When I Write To You, I Love<br /><br />not the instrument itself,but the way it moves across the grain<br />of paper: the way the lines scroll<br />through misty rain, trailing <br />the hush of bamboo forests,<br />the solemn march of letters formed,<br />brown rows of wild chestnut<br />and field horsetail; the shy blush<br />of Kosumosu fall cherries, the tender<br />ocher of rice ears. But to tell you again<br />of how I feel for you, I would choose<br />either the vivid purple of morning glories---<br />or better yet, a little sleeve of Murasaki<br />laid against the backdrop of Tsuki-yo Night Sky.<br /> Luisa A. Iglorianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-49414481776952224562012-04-10T09:27:42.262-04:002012-04-10T09:27:42.262-04:00I think you mean :
"Baystate Concord Grape
...I think you mean : <br />"Baystate Concord Grape<br /><br />Killed my Al-Star. My new friend?<br /><br />Iroshizuku."Tom Oddohttp://www.facebook.com/tomoddonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-87003530222731390342012-04-09T22:33:59.893-04:002012-04-09T22:33:59.893-04:00I give up.I give up.Charles L.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-2393632583432649462012-04-09T22:33:38.843-04:002012-04-09T22:33:38.843-04:00Whoops. Spacing issues.
Baystate Concord GrapeKi...Whoops. Spacing issues.<br /><br />Baystate Concord GrapeKilled my Al-Star. My new friend?Iroshizushi.Charles L.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-49182033676692482402012-04-09T22:32:08.313-04:002012-04-09T22:32:08.313-04:00A Haiku for Iroshizushi:
Baystate Concord GrapeKi...A Haiku for Iroshizushi:<br /><br />Baystate Concord GrapeKilled my Al-Star. My new friend?<br />Iroshizushi.Charles L.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-56152589940955571282012-04-09T21:20:59.544-04:002012-04-09T21:20:59.544-04:00too heavy for some,,, to REAL for Many.... too heavy for some,,, to REAL for Many.... Darrylman66noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-1897591894608277742012-04-09T21:16:59.503-04:002012-04-09T21:16:59.503-04:00Nothing on my plate
I never feel great
Chasing...Nothing on my plate<br /><br /><br />I never feel great<br /><br /><br />Chasing the dragon,<br />my fate<br /><br /><br />In the land, we can<br />find in every state<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Children trying<br /><br /><br />Mommy’s crying<br /><br /><br />Daddy’s buying<br /><br /><br />In the land, where<br />“Rocks” are felt worth dying<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Girls growing old<br /><br /><br />Selling themselves<br />bold<br /><br /><br />Beat, for not doing<br />what told<br /><br /><br />In the land, where<br />souls get sold<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />No one prays above<br /><br /><br />No one finds true<br />love<br /><br /><br />Living by push and<br />shove<br /><br /><br />In the land, where<br />drugs replace the dove<br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Everyone wishes to<br />stop<br /><br /><br />and Write, Before they drop<br /><br /><br />But my pen has lost it's top<br /><br /><br />In the land, where dreams and lives go “ker-plop”<br /><br /><br /> Darrylman66noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-56176134003310928352012-04-09T10:29:21.762-04:002012-04-09T10:29:21.762-04:00Title: Pens of past, present, future
Pens of past...Title: Pens of past, present, future<br /><br />Pens of past, present, and future<br />Brush pens<br />Reed pens<br />Quill pens<br />Dip pens<br />Fountain pens<br />Ballpoint pens<br />Gel pens<br />Stylus pens<br />Pens of past, present, and future<br />What will we think of next?Aisaziahttp://twitter.com/aisazianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554789357687368043.post-41222936265713961122012-04-09T06:50:58.212-04:002012-04-09T06:50:58.212-04:00Broad tipped or fine
the lines extend from
their s...Broad tipped or fine<br />the lines extend from<br />their source the rivers<br />of tears the rivers of<br />fears and the surging<br />rivers of joy that covers<br />them all from the rivers<br />of ink immemorialIra Stonenoreply@blogger.com