The Word: Madcap

Dictionary definition: wildly or heedlessly impulsive; reckless

Origins: from mad + cap (in the figurative sense: head

Use in a sentence: In his madcap youth, Teboho won notoriety for a series of vulgar pranks.

Synonyms: audacious, bold, wild, reckless, forward

Rant & Rave: RIP Prof Achebe

I posted this on the blog on Friday and was immediately told by a friend that the news of Chinua Achebe's passing was a farce (another twitter death) i therefore went on to delete the post as i thought it would be insensitive, but it was later confirmed that he had really passed on and thus the post is back up. 

Sad to learn of Chinua Achebe’s passing...

My first encounter with this prolific writer was during my early high school days when “Things Fall Apart” made up our prescribed reading list for English class. I think he’s work spoke very profoundly to me and he was one of the many African writers that planted the seed within me and ensured my love affair with literature would be an eternal bond.

May the greatness that was rest in peace and may we never forget him or the contributions he made to not only African but worldwide literature. 

RIP Chinua Achebe and thanks for the countless hours spent lost in worlds you wrote and our imaginations painted and breathed life into. 

The Word: Clement

Dictionary definition: (of a person) mild or merciful in disposition or character; lenient; compassionate
(of a weather) mild or temperate; pleasant.

Origins: late Middle English (< Old French ) < Latin clēment-,  stem of clēmēns  gentle, merciful

Use in a sentence: A clement judge reduced his sentence.

Synonyms: Clear, Fair, Temperate, Cloudless, Pleasant

Poetry: I asked God to Help Me Forget You (a reworked version)

Through the misfortune of the current goings on of my life, I finally managed to sit last night and rework this poem. I am still not 100% happy with it but, it speaks my current state of mind so clearly.
here it is, the reworked version of I asked God to Help Me Forget You.

Hope you like it!!!

I spoke to the creator about you
Validated your existence
for the love you gave spoke rapture
living love and running ferociously into forever

A brutal kind of tenderness
you lived between my hopes and wishes
Fuelled flames and prospects
abundantly joyous laughs aplenty
happy easy living in your arms

But, today I prayed
I asked God to help me forget you
The clouds luminous fray and boastful
can we speak to the bad times
insist on them
and term them defining moments

Inside my minds crawlspaces
I want you gone
cause you broke utopia
I want you gone
cause you ruptured arcadia
I want you gone

So I prayed and
I asked God to help me forget you.

The word: Gregarious

Dictionary definition: (of a person) Fond of company; sociable.
(Of animals) Living in flocks or loosely organized communities.
(Of plants) growing together in clusters, but not matted.

Origins: From Latin gregarius (belonging to a flock), from greg- (stem of grex-). Ultimately from Indo-European root ger- (to gather) which is also the source of such words as aggregate, congregation, egregious, and segregate.

Use in a sentence: I'm a well-balanced woman, and fairly gregarious too.

Synonyms: social, genial, outgoing, convivial, companionable, friendly, extroverted.

Angelou Corner: Alone

Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don't believe I'm wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires
With money they can't use
Their wives run round like banshees
Their children sing the blues
They've got expensive doctors
To cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
No, nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely
I'll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is gonna blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
'Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone. 

Fave Five: The Word is the Verb

This is where my blog attempts acrobatics… well my minutely anyway. I don’t know if you’ll still be with me after this but, here goes nothing.
I promised a blog about all things wordy and this post is as wordy as a post can get. This month’s Fave 5 is on words, my favourite words to be a little more precise. Yes, yes, I know you’re probably thinking how strange it’s going to be for me to0 use words to write about words but it’s all good…
here they are, my 5 favourite words.

5.            Agape
Dictionary definition: Love that is spiritual and not sexual in its nature, seen as a model for humanity.
This word speaks to the notion of unconditional love and that is by far always a lovely notion.

4.            Ensoul
Dictionary Definition: To place or cherish in the soul
is this not a great image? Taking something and endowing it with a soul. 10/10 for whoever thought this word up.

3.            Insurrection     
This is not a sweet whimsy filled, deeply spiritual, inspirational word in sound or meaning. The dictionary defines it as meaning an armed rebellion. I first heard the word on Rhythm City (through David Genaro ofcause), I looked it up and instantly fell in love. It sounds brutal, Raw, offensive almost and yes, that it part of its appeal.

2.            Lissome
Meaning limber, supple and/or having the ability to move with ease. Honestly, I just like the way it sounds, plain and simple, no stress, no fuss.

1.            Esoteric
This is my current favourite word in the whole wide world. It is defined as being beyond the understanding of an average mind, tough to understand. Intended to be understood by only a particular group or relating to that which is known by a restricted number of people, not publicly disclosed.
I think, if asked to describe myself in one word, this would be it. 

this post has inspired me to add a new feature onto the blog which i will call "the word". This feature will highlight a new word on a weekly basis in attempts to grow not just my own but, your vocabulary as well. 

Seven Tips From F. Scott Fitzgerald on How to Write Fiction

http://www.openculture.com/2013/02/seven_tips_from_f_scott_fitzgerald_on_how_to_write_fiction.html