"How To Write With Style" by Kurt Vonnegut

"Newspaper reporters and technical writers are trained to reveal almost nothing about themselves in their writings. This makes them freaks in the world of writers, since almost all of the other ink-stained wretches in that world reveal a lot about themselves to readers. We call these revelations, accidental and intentional, elements of style.

These revelations tell us as readers what sort of person it is with whom we are spending time. Does the writer sound ignorant or informed, stupid or bright, crooked or honest, humorless or playful-- ? And on and on.

Why should you examine your writing style with the idea of improving it? Do so as a mark of respect for your readers, whatever you're writing. If you scribble your thoughts any which way, your readers will surely feel that you care nothing about them. They will mark you down as an egomaniac or a chowderhead --- or, worse, they will stop reading you."

For the rest of this essay, go here.

"confession"

I would trade my white for your red.
My distance for your bed.
A kiss where e'er you've bled.
And I am yours, forever.

You hold me in your sphere.
I cannot flee from here,
from all that I hold dear:
And I am yours, forever.

Move closer in the cold
and fear not growing old,
our dreams, for time, are sold.
And I am yours, forever.

There is room for pain
that cuts against the grain,
but love, it shall remain,
and I am yours, forever.

I cannot promise fate
will open every gate,
and if I must, I'll wait.
For I am yours, forever.

-William F. DeVault (2004)

"As kingfishers catch fire, as dragonflies draw flame"

As kingfishers catch fire, as dragonflies draw flame;
as tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out its broad name;
Deals that each being indoor dwells;
Selves - goes itself myself it speaks and spells,
Crying What I do is for me: for that I came.

I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eyes what in God's eyes he is -
Christ - for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces.

-Gerard Manely Hopkins. Poems. 1918.