I recently read Mary Oliver’s wonderful book, Rules for the Dance. Oliver is one of America’s great poets, and a colleague here at the University of Florida (Dr. Brenda Smith) introduced her to me. In chapter 9, a short chapter of just two pages, Oliver (1998) briefly talks about how the sound of a poem conveys meaning too. She notes, for example, that the liquids
My first introduction to the sound and color of words came from a college professor as he read poetry. To me, words are like music notes or dabs of color on an artist’s palette, waiting to be placed in just the right places to produce a word symphony or artistic masterpiece. Choice and placement is the work of highly creative artists!
I recently met someone who has synesthesia. Those with synesthesia experience one of their senses through another. For example, they see words and letters in color. Musicians with synesthesia frequently report seeing the color of a sound. All that to say, your analogy of words as dabs of color is exactly how these unique individuals experience the world. Thanks for sharing!
My first introduction to the sound and color of words came from a college professor as he read poetry. To me, words are like music notes or dabs of color on an artist’s palette, waiting to be placed in just the right places to produce a word symphony or artistic masterpiece. Choice and placement is the work of highly creative artists!
I recently met someone who has synesthesia. Those with synesthesia experience one of their senses through another. For example, they see words and letters in color. Musicians with synesthesia frequently report seeing the color of a sound. All that to say, your analogy of words as dabs of color is exactly how these unique individuals experience the world. Thanks for sharing!