h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Genesis - A53936175
Author: B'Elana [©] ACE- Minister of Abbr. - Bitten by the writing bug - I blame the Stretcher. :P - U230913

Just experimenting a bit.

If it's rubbish, I'll remove it pronto.

This reads well. It has a biblical weight and balance to it.

Not sure it's true. Didn't man just build bigger and better weapons? Or is that too cynical?

The idea of pressure needing a valve seems a bit of an anachronism.

Thanks, mvp.

I didn't expect anyone to think it's true, unfortunately, there is no end in sight of the building of ever more powerful weapons of mass destruction, but I am convinced that words on a sheet of paper can have a devastating effect for very many people - much more so than swords (just think of the laws governments pass).

re: pressure needing a valve: maybe it's a German thing, this idea of 'letting off steam', or maybe it's even just my idea that letting off steam needs a valve, so it is 'focussed' and controlled. Not sure.

I think the pressure needing a valve makes perfect sense.

And I like the poem, even though I am not sure that the pen is really mightier than the sword.



At least, some days I am not.

This post has been removed.

Thanks, dmitri and blue bird.

I looked up the origins of this phrase:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword.html

I think it is true on a site like this, even if we don't use a pen any more, but a keyboard.

and

Oh, thank you for thank, B'Elana!!!

How did I live without this knowledge? I never knew that this famous phrase was used by the incomparable Bulwer-Lytton.

It is an ambition of mine to someday participate in his contest. *swoon*

He of all people would have known the power of the pen...just think what he wrought with one sentence, that great sentence beginning...

'It was a dark and stormy night...'

Have a look here: A22547829

And watch out for the photo they put on it.

Do I sense another hootoo competition coming on?

And this year's winners:

http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/2009.htm

Priceless gems, every one.

how fascinating this all is .. ...

hmm .. .. I had not heard of the rather remarkable Mr. Edward George Bulwer-Lytton until now ... .. although I obviously knew the .. and the sentences .. never to late to learn the source of quotes I suppose ... although these days I feel a bit guilty about not knowing the source of quotes ... especially onces I have been using for forty years or so .. .. and I am determined to find out who said the original .. every time I use one ...



(even as I type ... the day just turned very dark and stormy ...almost like night in fact .. .. rain is lashing against the window .. distant thunder .. the spirit of Mr. Bulwer-Lytton watches me yet for my sins ...)



thankyou B'Elana for Genesis .. very thought provoking it seems! As you know ...I don't consider myself to be qualified to offer critique .. knowing very little about the structural aspects of writing ...I prefer to leave these matters to those who have the knowledge ..



..but I have just read your poem aloud .. and I love the way that it .. to me .. builds up to the second last line .. and then I read the final line as a whisper .. a whisper with punch ... which is perhaps a contradiction in terms .. .. but it sounded great! ...



interesting visual format also ... the way the lines are laid out .. not all beginning at the right hand margin as traditional text .. is this all part of writing a poem for you? the page presentation? ...



(note I say page .. I do in fact write with a pen .. onto paper .. then transfer to type after ... well .. in fact I use pencil and crayon .. so I can rub out lots .. as I find that the pen .... well .. the words that are created thereform .. to be very much a mystery .. a great power ... a great responsibility in fact .. as the pen definitely feels potentially mightier than the sword ..a double edged sword sometimes .. and ..

I would go on .. Genesis just got me started!.. .. but I shall refrain for now ... .. and thankyou ..



for the people of the AWW .. if you are reading this .. just to say that I'm not in fact a stranger to the AWW .. having been around here three years ago ...then I retired to my journal ..



so .. confession .. quite often .. when online .. I do read through the work presented here .. and I am very appreciative of it .. so thankyou ..

I have no intention of intruding .. or trespassing ..or attempting to offer critique (see above paragraph re not knowing what I am talking about .. ) .... but I do love to read through works of fellow writers and see what images or ideas come to me as a result .. ...

cactuscafe (aka Helen)

Thank you, Helen. Your thoughts are much appreciated.

Funny, the things you noticed. I'm not what you'd call a 'structured' writer (or a writer at all), so I never even noticed the layout, and I didn't read it out aloud (I only did now). I just wrote what came to mind. The only aim I had, was to make a reference to the holy book, but with my interpretation.

If my little poem 'got you started', then that's fantastic.

hey B'Elana .. ... it has for sure got me started ... the graphic-design of writing ... ... you didn't notice the layout? ... and I am just about to as opposed to steal ... your design .. for private notebook use only .. promise .. ...

... had to come back in as I just noticed that .. totally by mistake... ... I wrote in my posting to you ... meaning of course ... .. (in said notebook I often write in mirror writing ... from right hand margin to the left ...to see what back-to-front poems might be lurking in my pen .... ..)

thereby proving that the pen might be mightier than the sword but is ...in my case .. more eccentric than the keyboard? ... I think perhaps .. or maybe not ... ... hmm ...perhaps there's a lot of poem-design potential in a computer keyboard ...

yes Genesis really has started me off

.. H

Aleander cut the Gordian knot

Hearst started a war with a linotype

Helen sped a flotilla with a face

Mae West kept the army, navy and the air force afloat

... you had me attempting some learning here TonsilRevenge ... ... now I know about Hearst and Aleander and the Gordian Knot .. but I didn't before .. like half an hour ago .. .. so thankyou ..

actually I just went over to and Platypus Dancing to appreciate your mind yet further ... nice to talk to you again after all these years ...

H

Some interesting thoughts there. Thanks, TR and CC.

I've seen there's no guide entry on Hearst, but when searching for him, I came across the one about Ambrose Bierce, which you should read of you haven't already done so.

Uuups:

A25953212