This is just to say…

Ensorcelled? Really? Why send your readers away (probably never to return) to consult a dictionary when 'enchanted' or 'fascinated' would work just as well (probably better) in this case?

Up at Tumba-bloody-rumba shootin’ kanga-bloody-roos

Possibly the only word in the English language to begin with the letters ‘tm’, ‘tmesis’ is a noun and means the practice of separating a word with another word (as in ‘old’ inserted into ‘anyhow’).

Eclogues and shivering sizars

And the definition of ‘eclogue’? It simply means a short poem, especially, apparently, a ‘pastoral dialogue’ (whatever that is; I did google it, but got distracted by some shiny things). See Oxford Dictionaries. So, there you have it. Tempted to use it? No, nor me.

There is an evil hand afoot ahead

I have been out and about, watching films and reading books. As a result, I have discovered that the sky can be ‘cerulean’ and now know the meaning of the lovely word ‘passaggio’. And by serendipity, I came across the even lovelier word ‘passeggiata’. I have also found out who coined the phrases ‘the great unwashed’ and ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’. The very same person, as it happens, who first wrote the classic opening line, ‘It was a dark and stormy night’ – which led me to some competition results that made me laugh out loud. All this, and Ashima too – a beautiful name I came across.

Love, curiosity, freckles and doubt

I can justify this post by saying that it is Valentine’s Day, and at the end you’ll find links to stuff about the history and language associated with Valentine’s Day; apostrophes (don’t all rush at once); and more posts with a literary theme. The title of this post, by the way, is part of a Dorothy Parker quote: Four be the things I’d have been better without: Love, curiosity, freckles and doubt.

Eyes like strange sins

So, relax, because now we’ve earned our walk in the park: all that was just an excuse to quote some wonderful lines from Raymond Chandler, whose ability to cook up hardboiled prose par excellence was second to none. Here goes: The streets were dark with something more than night. (Trouble Is My Business)

Fleas, compasses, love and seduction

The term ‘metaphysical’ was first used in relation to poetry by Dr Johnson, who wanted to express his disapproval of the convoluted and complex way that many seventeenth century poets expressed themselves. The metaphysical poets, of whom John Donne (1572-1631) was the arch exponent, used a literary device known as ‘conceit’.