Writing is like being able to put life into a snow globe. It takes the things that are too big and scary and reduces them into a form that I can put away when I want and look at from a distance. It also takes all that’s good in life and captures it into something I can take out when I want and look at close up and keep forever. It makes the bad things into something I can hold…and the good things into something I can hold onto. Both help so much that I need that little souvenir of life.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Succinctly Yours Week 227: How Nursery Rhymes Were Hatched

Many thanks to Grandma of Grandma’s Goulash for hosting Succinctly Yours. Participants are invited to tell a story of 140 words or 140 characters or fewer based on the photo. This week’s bonus word was “nitpick.”

Mother Goose got her start with the military cadence she used to march her brood. She was a real stickler and was known to nitpick when it came to waddling out of step.  136

The Gooseworth Chant*
I don’t know but I have heard
Geese are really the very best bird!

Sound off, 1, 2
Sound off, 3, 4

Sound off 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12… and more!  126

*I looked up the original “Sound Off” and discovered it’s called “The Duckworth Chant.” How perfect was that?
In the beginning, you do need a lot of discipline—until you discover that you want to write, need to write, and that the work of writing is a lot easier than the work of not writing. ~Joel Saltzman in If You Can Talk, You Can Write
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19 comments:

  1. Yamini MacLeanJuly 27, 2015 at 12:20 PM

    Hari OM
    Hehehe, a very American take on the prompt... interesting that the name was such, though! Nicely cadenced! YAM xx

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    Replies
    1. TammyJuly 27, 2015 at 10:41 PM

      I love it when the universe just hands out gifts like that name. Makes me smile. Thank you for visiting!

      Delete
  2. Linda O'ConnellJuly 27, 2015 at 4:24 PM

    That brood of hers, you'd have to nitpick to keep them in line. You rock at this.

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    1. TammyJuly 27, 2015 at 10:43 PM

      Thanks so much, Linda. And you're right - I counted 13 of the little guys. You'd have to be a drill sergeant to keep track of them all.

      Delete
  3. ValJuly 27, 2015 at 10:10 PM

    Their formation leaves a little to be desired.

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    Replies
    1. TammyJuly 27, 2015 at 10:44 PM

      Lol. I was hoping no one would notice. Apparently Mother didn't nitpick enough.

      Delete
  4. Lisa Ricard ClaroJuly 28, 2015 at 2:11 PM

    I always love your take on things. "Waddling out of step" reminds me of myself when I was pregnant. :)

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    Replies
    1. TammyAugust 2, 2015 at 11:29 AM

      Lol. I can't imagine you waddling, even pregnant. And I've never even met you in person!

      Delete
  5. Lisa Ricard ClaroJuly 28, 2015 at 2:12 PM

    Did you know that after all this time I wasn't following you? Rectified that a minute ago. :)

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  6. Sioux RoslawskiAugust 1, 2015 at 6:07 PM

    Tammy--As usual, your piece perfectly matches up with the photo.

    ReplyDelete
  7. TammyAugust 2, 2015 at 11:32 AM

    Thanks, Sioux! Though as Val pointed out, maybe not quite so perfectly. Lol.

    ReplyDelete
  8. LynnAugust 2, 2015 at 4:02 PM

    As always, great memes.

    ReplyDelete
  9. TammyAugust 2, 2015 at 4:35 PM

    Thanks, Lynn!

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownAugust 3, 2015 at 10:43 AM

    Oh my, I so love this! I'm still laughing! And yep, the Universe offered up the perfect connection, as usual. The Duckworth Chant -- what could be more perfect? I love the quote too, btw. Thanks, always, for the smile :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. TammyAugust 3, 2015 at 2:55 PM

    Thanks, Ters. One of the things I just love about micro is that to me those little tidbits are like snacks, but with words. Word-snacks. "Duckworth" was like finding chocolate in your house that you didn't know was there.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Pat WahlerAugust 4, 2015 at 5:29 PM

    Geese--pretty to look at but a scourge if you have to deal with them. Those beaks pack a pinch that doesn't let go.

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  13. TammyAugust 6, 2015 at 6:16 PM

    I believe it. I once made the mistake of casually tossing some bread at a flock of geese. It ended with running and screaming and mayhem. I will never trust a goose again as long as I live. And don't let swans fool you with their beauty and grace - take them out of the Blue Danube and they are gigantic, scary attack-birds that make an awful noise.

    ReplyDelete

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