I love words.\u00a0 They’re fun.\u00a0 Words are a lot of things to me: comforting, beautiful, entertaining.\u00a0 They are also toys.\u00a0 I like playing with words, experimenting with sounds, making up new words and more.\u00a0 I even collect words, like pub names and epitaphs ( fun and free sort of collections).\u00a0 I’m going to record examples of all that in this blog just for the fun of it.\u00a0 Well-written essays and stories are great, but sometimes I just want a tiny, clever bit of literary stuff.\u00a0 Word play is like popping a piece of communication candy in my mouth, a sweet, creamy verbal truffle, a bite of literary cheesecake.<\/p>\n
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“Flag” Explained<\/span><\/p>\n I don’t like explaining word play; I prefer letting a pun or double-entendre stand on its own.\u00a0 That works sometimes but other times I’m afraid my slightly esoteric or obtuse joy of messing with words might not be obvious.\u00a0 For example, here’s an early post in The Life Literary: <\/em>Flag<\/a>.<\/a><\/a> It’s a picture of kilted gents carrying flags in a parade.\u00a0 The title of the post is Flag and it contains four short phrases.\u00a0 It’s a good example of what I love doing with words.\u00a0 Here’s what it means:<\/p>\n Take Note!!\u00a0 (to flag<\/span> something is to get someone’s attention)<\/p>\n Tartans and Colors: (a synonym for flag<\/span> is color, as in presenting the colors)<\/p>\n High standards (an actual flag<\/span> can also be called a standard, and the four in the picture are\u00a0 being held high).<\/p>\n Weary of word play? (flag<\/span> also can mean to get tired of something, like his attention or energy flagged).<\/p>\n So there it is, a good example of how I have fun with words.<\/p>\n A Word Play a Day Keeps the Blues Away?<\/span><\/p>\n I’ll be playing with words in this blog partly, simply for the joy of it.\u00a0 I also am suggesting it as another way to live literarily.\u00a0 The word literary sounds so highbrow, so elitist, sort of unattainable.\u00a0 It doesn’t have to be that way.\u00a0 The joy of words is available to almost everyone.\u00a0 In the course of a day, while working or playing, at the store or taking a walk, anybody can be aware of words, puns, rhymes, double meanings, and more.\u00a0 That’s all I’m aiming for here: to provide another way to live literarily.\u00a0 And word play can happen anyplace, anytime, interwoven into the fabric of living.\u00a0 I’ll be peppering this blog with lots of word play.<\/p>\n So let the fun begin!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I love words.\u00a0 They’re fun.\u00a0 Words are a lot of things to me: comforting, beautiful, entertaining.\u00a0 They are also toys.\u00a0 I like playing with words, experimenting with sounds, making up new words and more.\u00a0 I even collect words, like pub … Continue reading