Reason Rhyme

introduction to the Reason Rhyme exercises “The Conversation” by the sculptor Etienne, donated by France to the city of Havana in 2012. Bronze on a marble plinth (which contains French and Cuban coins and a time-capsule). In conversation, the figures have spaces left to interpretation. This is a set of exercises on filling in spaces. […]

being my unique self, like everyone else Goals To critically assess … Aura Was a late November evening, perhaps my eyes deceived me, but by the glow of pale moon, morning’s snow reflected blue. Not the tinge of artist’s brush, hinting snow cold to the touch, crayon scribbled my yard to ruin, with jagged lines

what it means for me to be me Goals To critically assess … Juice Trust Us ( and come out to play ) I blew my jeans to smithereens, with my Gilbert chemistry set.Drank dandelion wine one page at a time; childhood ends when we forget. Pie tins glide and water slides. Don’t have to

destined to make meaningful choices Goals To critically assess … Damien’s Dæmon Damien lay on a hilltop, a clear day with nothing to stop his view of the valley far below. Which way will you walk down, said a voice with no sound that seemed to come deep in a dream. Doesn’t matter, they’re all

how we look affects what we see Goals To critically assess … Hideous Width For lack of brush to paint it with, I’d deal with that hideous width. Trace a square or splash a circle. Something focal and likely purple. Long haunting shadows hem me in, living beside this rustic lemon. Wooden floors and faded

something is the sum of its effects Goals To critically assess … Lion Around The lion tamer stands on a dais: rounded platform, slightly raised. Chair in one hand and big top hat, her steely stare locked on the cat. Then Leo begins to circle the stage, at the centre of which is the tamer’s

graces uniting at times deceive us Goals To critically assess … Quick Hard Shove Gini gave a quick hard shove, and Jeri stumbled back. Tripping on a garden hose, it seemed like an attack. When the brick fell at his feet, their eyes and mouths drew wide. Sure to land upon his head, were he

what I imagine is inventory in my world Goals To critically assess … No Statue Sleeps No statue sleeps in block of stone, imagined in the mind alone. Nor do sonnets abound already among the pages of dictionary. Poets create, they don’t discover, which words to use and in what order. Like eyes at night

patterns of experience open to revision Goals To critically assess … Bad Dog The dog is a dæmon, my people are sure. Were it not for the boy, the pup disappears. This awful mongrel, this adorable pup. Off him to a lighthouse, have him boxed up. Perhaps I exaggerate, despite admiration. I am the cat

grasping for greater than knowing Goals To critically assess … Cho Knows Cho knows many things. She knows by thought alone. A square must have four sides. Rock’s a kind of stone. She can drive below speed limit. An empty can has no pop in it. Round squares cannot be drawn. A light switch is

ideas on which I am willing to act Goals To critically assess … Theo’s Deity Theo believes there is a being, beyond the natural plane, willing acts of consequence: forming stars, making rain. Imposing flood, inspiring artists. Shedding blood, bringing harvest. Theo thinks this deity, in all it does or would, can only be for

finding meaning in what’s personally important Goals To critically assess … Saucy Art The spaghetti’s almost ready; maybe a little more. Not to eat, but for my art, tossed upon the floor. Red sauce is often splashy; tomato stings my eyes. Goggles—a necessity, so supper’s no surprise. ( I made these special goggles with tiny wiper

the whole as something apart from the sum Goals To critically assess … Res I have a suitcase of souped-up plasticine that takes the shape and function of almost anything. A shirt, a shoe, a key, or convertible. Makes a great gift and the stuff is durable. A million uses and moulds with ease. Make

an interactive glossary for figures of speech Adynaton Adynaton: the impossibly impossible. Pronounced: add uh NAY ton. An exaggeration to say something is impossible or roundabout way of saying ‘no.’ 1 Getting a straight answer from her is like squeezing blood from a stone. 2 There isn’t a snowball’s chance in summer that I will vote for