Poetry is an awesome way to celebrate words, emotions, and events. And right now, as we shelter in place, poetry is even more important. According to the American Academy of Poets:
Now, as we face an unprecedented circumstance, National Poetry Month has taken on new meaning and importance. More and more people are turning to poetry at this moment, because poetry and inspiring language can help bring solace and needed strength.
American Academy of Poets
Every April, poets, authors, librarians, and people who love words celebrate National Poetry Month, sponsored by the American Academy of Poets and Poets.org. And today, April 30, is a special day in a month of special days. The American Academy of Poets encourages everyone to share poems today, in person and on social media. Write a poem in chalk on the sidewalk! Share it in a note that you drop on a neighbor’s porch. Post it on Instagram! Do whatever it takes to get poems out there! We need them!
In honor of Poem in Your Pocket Day, here’s a short, inspiring poem for you to share:
The Rider
by Naoimi Shihab Nye
A boy told me
if he roller-skated fast enough
his loneliness couldn’t catch up to him,
the best reason I ever heard
for trying to be a champion.
What I wonder tonight
pedaling hard down King William Street
is if it translates to bicycles.
A victory! To leave your loneliness
panting behind you on some street corner
while you float free into a cloud of sudden azaleas,
pink petals that have never felt loneliness,
no matter how slowly they fell.
Isn’t it lovely? What poem will you share? #pocketpoem #ShelterInPoems
As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, we are having more discussions in our house about the terms used to discuss it. This week, we’ve tackled the difference between epidemic and pandemic and an explanation of herd immunity. We’ve also had serious discussion about bias and the importance of evaluating fact versus opinion, as there are many loud voices out there touting opinion as fact, and now is NOT the time to confuse the two.
So, from my Word Nerd home to yours, some critical terms for the “time of corona”.
Epidemic vs Pandemic
As I explained in my first post on pandemic terms, a pandemic is an outbreak of disease that covers a wide geographic area and affects a significant proportion of the population. It is usually used to describe disease from new or novel bacteria or viruses and/or those that spread quickly. Pandemic comes from the Greek pan (meaning “all”) and demos (meaning people, district, country).
Epidemic comes from the Greek epi (at, or on) + demos (people, district, country), and it describes an outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many people at the same time, but is usually contained in one region, state, or country.
To compare the two terms, pandemic has increased scope and coverage than an epidemic. It’s basically a worse form of an epidemic, however there is no clear line between the two. Epidemic is used more often than pandemic in a broad, non-medical sense. (e.g., overuse injuries have become an epidemic among high school athletes)
As talks begin about how to “return to normal” after the pandemic, I’ve been hearing a lot about the need for vaccines and the concept of herd immunity. Herd immunity occurs when so many people in a population become immune to a disease that it stops the spread of that disease. If one person susceptible to disease is surrounded by people who are immune, it is unlikely that vulnerable person will get the disease.
Herd immunity is achieved two ways. The first comes with natural immunity, when a large number of people in a population are exposed to a disease and develop antibodies to fight it. This process requires significant exposure and time, and people involved may or may not show symptoms of disease. The second way occurs when enough people within a population are vaccinated against the disease.
Herd immunity is different for each disease and is influenced by how quickly a disease spreads. Currently, we cannot use herd immunity to stop the spread of COVID-19 because:
There isn’t a vaccine for COVID-19 yet, and probably won’t be for about a year
It would take a very long time for populations to develop natural immunity to COVID-19
Scientists don’t know if you can develop disease from COVID-19 more than once
Some patients experience serious side effects with COVID-19, and doctors are not sure why some people are more vulnerable
Some severe cases lead to death
Hospitals may get overwhelmed by high numbers of cases
We’re hearing a lot of opinions on the possible course of COVID-19, how best to combat its spread, and when it might be safe to ease protective measures. Sadly, the advice we hear is often conflicting and confusing, and we have so many “experts”, it’s hard to know who to trust. One friend asked me, what exactly is medical opinion and how does it differ from other opinions?
According to Dictionary.com, opinion can mean A LOT of things (Emphasis added):
a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty
a personal view, attitude, or appraisal
the formal expression of a professional judgment: to ask for a second medical opinion.
Law. the formal statement by a judge or court of the reasoning and the principles of law used in reaching a decision of a case
a judgment or estimate of a person or thing with respect to character, merit, etc.: to forfeit someone’s good opinion
a favorable estimate; esteem:
According to USLegal.com, medical opinion is defined as “statements from physicians and psychologists or other acceptable medical sources. The opinion of a treating physician should be afforded substantial weight in a court case.”
Reflects current scientific thought and standards of care that have gained acceptance among peers in the relevant field.
Appropriately characterizes the theory on which testimony is based if the theory is not widely accepted in the profession.
Considers standards that prevailed at the time the event under review occurred when testifying about a standard of care.
These guidelines apply to a very specific situation – testifying in court about a medical case they were involved with- however, I imagine these could also be used to characterize the statements of opinion given by physicians in an official capacity.
Speaking of official experts and their opinions, you should know:
According to the Office of Health and Human Services, the Surgeon General is responsible for providing Americans with “the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury.” Our current Surgeon General is VADM Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H. and his motto is “better health through better partnerships”.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is a part of the National Institute of Health, and its mission is “leading research to understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases”. The current director of NIAID is Anthony Fauci, MD. He was appointed in 1984 and has advised six presidents on issues about domestic and global health concerns. He also has extensive research experience with respiratory infections, infectious disease, and emerging diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a mission to “to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S.” and it has extensive information about COVID-19 on its webpage. It is currently directed by Robert R. Redfield, MD.
I believe the medical opinion of these people deserves our trust during this unusual time.
April is National Poetry Month, and if there ever was a good time to read more poetry, it’s now. While we shelter at home, it’s easy to drown ourselves in news, or binge watch Netflix, or lose hours in video game worlds. (Not me on the last one, but my youngest has spent much time preaching the merits of “Animal Crossing”.)
Since many of us have extra time, let’s spend it stimulating our minds and lifting our souls. Let’s read poems! The Academy of American Poetshas a page dedicated to “Shelter in Poems”, where readers share poems that help them find “courage, solace, and actionable energy”. Here are two of my favorites from that page. (Both are in the public domain, so I can quote them entirely. )
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
And here’s another one, by Emily Dickenson, that I’ve shared before, but it’s so appropriate, and a great one to memorize and meditate on, that I’m sharing again.
I hope you find these encouraging and inspiring. Stop by poets.org to find more Shelter in Poems. Poem in Your Pocket Day will be April 30 this year. Start looking for a short, sweet poem to share!
Where do you find solace and courage these days? Do you have any poems you can recommend?
I’ve been really frustrated this week. Thanks to COVID-19 and our need to stay home, there are no appointments to run to, no activities for my kids to attend. I should have more time to get things done…
But I’m not. And I have been extremely cranky about it. Ask the children.
Thank goodness this was also the week I decided to finish Austin Kleon’s book Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad. It’s a fun little book, literally, with lots of pictures and drawings, plenty of inspirational quotes, and, most importantly, concise advice about how to stay creative, no matter what is going on in life. Lately on social media, Kleon has been touting his book as the perfect manual for working from home, and he’s not wrong.
Keep Going is a bold font, five by five inch book I plan on keeping handy for reference and reminders- an easy, quick read to pick up when I find myself slipping down a slide of self-doubt and negative thinking. Keep Going shares ten tips for keeping our minds and souls open to the creative process. Kleon doesn’t just say what to do; he explains why it’s important and how to do it. My two favorites: “Forget the noun, do the verb”, and “Demons hate fresh air”. Want to know what those mean? Read the book!
The best message Kleon shared with me through the pages of Keep Going: I need to stop worrying about being productive, and focus instead on doing good things with my time. Things like turning off my phone, taking walks, observing nature, looking for interesting juxtapositions, and allowing myself to falter and change. I realize none of this sounds like earth shattering revelation, yet Kleon’s style is so fresh and succinct, he makes it easy to not just read, but also to actually live his very important message.
Practing photography is play, and it’s good for me, according to Kleon.
Here’s how Kleon closes his book, with words I need to memorize and repeat to myself daily!
Worry less about getting things done. Worry more about things worth doing. Worry less about being a great artist. Worry more about being a good human being who makes art. Worry less about making a mark. Worry more about leaving things better than you found them.
Austin Kleon, Keep Going
Keep Going doesn’t just tell me how to be more creative, it gives me permission to indulge my creativity, now and always, because it will help me be a better person. 😉
Keep Going is the perfect read for this time of quarantine. Its also a great gift. If you want to sample more of Kleon’s work, visit his website and check out his weekly newsletter. In it, he shares quick thoughts and links to cool things that inspire the senses. Through it I’ve discovered some interesting Spotify playlists and inspiring articles to read.
Are you familiar with Kleon’s work? What books and people inspire you to be creative in good times and bad?
More time at home means more time with my kids, which, I confess, I’m thankful for. The other day, I watched a video presentation my son made that I would never have seen if he was at college. So, that’s a plus during these crazy days.
More time with my kids (all teens and young adults) means more time for us to debate the hows and whys of doing things – the best way clean up the kitchen, the best way to manage screen time, and, this Word Nerd’s personal favorite, the best way to use grammar.
One of my children has taken to adding “at” on the end of phrases and questions. Like, “Where are the keys at?” It’s a common colloquialism here in southwest Virginia, and like “I might could do that“, it makes me cringe. Every time. Which is probably why he says it. But I still correct him, every time.
According to Merriam-Webster, the rule to not end sentences with a preposition started with the English poet and essayist John Dryden. In 1672, Dryden wrote an essay criticizing Shakespeare for using the “terminal preposition”. Dryden probably felt this way because Latin does not allow terminal prepositions, and at the time, many believed English should be structured more like Latin. This idea made it into grammar rule books and has been taught for centuries.
However, the folks at Merriam-Webster suggest that sometimes, ending a sentence with a preposition makes more sense than trying to avoid it. For example, “What did you step on?” is less clunky than “On what did you step?”. Or “I wish I knew where the cat came from” sounds smoother than “I wish I knew from where the cat came.”
If a preposition is unnecessary to convey the meaning of the sentence, leave it out. For example, in “Where are the keys at?”, the “at” is unnecessary. The question makes sense without it. Same for prepositions that appear in the middle of sentences. “The dog jumped off of the couch” can be more simply stated as “The dog jumped off the couch.” The of is redundant.
Prepositions that are part of phrasal verbs (verbs made from multiple words, including prepositions, like cheer up or log in) are appropriate at ends of sentences.
If the sentence is less clunky when putting a preposition at the end, go ahead and do that.
In formal writing, like a cover letter for a job application, stick to conservative rules so as not to offend a potential employer with what could be perceived as “bad grammar”.
So, according to Grammar Girl, there’s good reason for me to cringe when son says “Where’s it at?” It’s redundant, and that is what I will lovingly explain to him the next time he says it. 😉
What are some grammar habits that cause you to cringe? Let’s take a closer look at them!
More time at home means more time to read. But during these days of social distancing and sobering news about COVID19 from Italy and New York, I don’t really want to hunker down with sad historical fiction about WWII or a memoir about grief.
Fun and fantastical are definitely the way to go in these uncertain times, so I’ve compiled a list of fun and/or easy reads to keep your spirits up while you #stayathome. Click on the links to read my full reviews. I would LOVE IT if you would share similar titles in the comments. We can all use a smile, right? 🙂
Fun
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. College Professor Don Tillman likes order, structure, schedule. Enter Rosie, who treasures none of these things. A fun read. (A blog reader said #2 in the series isn’t great, but #3 is.)
Where’d You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple. A hilarious and thoughtful story of an intelligent, talented woman who gets lost in motherhood and marriage- and how she finds herself again.
Yes, Please by Amy Poehler. Funny and insightful memoir from a successful comedienne. (The fam has been watching A LOT of Parks and Rec these days; I love, and often relate to, Leslie Knope’s slightly hysterical enthusiasm and compulsions.)
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. Six little words from her older sister challenge Shonda to do the things that scare her. The result? A much happier Shonda.
Don’t Get Caught by Kurt Dinan. “10:00 tonight at the water tower. Tell no one. -Chaos Club” When “just Max” – no social life, GPA 2.5 – gets this invitation, he knows he must be suspicious. He also knows he has to go. A fun YA prank book.
Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer. A 12 year old (slightly) evil genius plots to steal gold from fairies. Very fun, and over the course of the serious, Artemis gets a conscience! (very witty kid lit)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (from Goodreads: With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.) YA Fantasy
Inspiring
“A handbook for working from home”
Becoming by Michelle Obama. An inspiring memoir about Michelle’s rise from a low income neighborhood in Chicago to Princeton and the White House. Empowering and optimistic. A must read for all young women.
The Audacity of Hope by Barak Obama. The former president wrote this memoir while serving as an Illinois senator. Explores the joys and challenges of public service, always with a pervasive attitude of hope.
Keep Going by Austin Kleon Artist/ writer Austin Kleon shares his formula for persisting with creative work. He has recently dubbed his book a “handbook for working from home.” Short, lots of quotes and drawings. 😉
What fun and uplifting books can you recommend? Please share in the comments!
