Sunday 20 December 2009

Writing

Experimenting with different ways of placing words in relation to one another, I have now come to the position that going straight for clarity is the best way of communicating.
What I mean is, don't think you have to be vague to make it sound a poem, don't consciously do that. But vagueness can also come when you try for the exact, because truth is that which cannot be put into words and the more words you use for clarity, the farther away from truth you go.
That is why the Bible is so full of parables, the great ones had always spoken in parables. You understand what I tell you, don't you?

*****
(This is a comment to a nice poem by my nephew and I think there is sense in it for all my young friends on the blog.)

7 comments:

kochuthresiamma p .j said...

agree with you sir.brevity is truly the soul of wit.

words are most effective when they stimulate a trend of thought through connotations, associations and intertexuality, and finally lead you to the gates of truth which may not have been the destination intended by the creator of those word.

yes. words fascinate. any wonder it is said, in the begining was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.

the infifnite possibilities held out by OM!

P. Venugopal said...

In my profession, we are taught brevity and clarity. But we often break these principles on days when the copy flow is poor. Sometimes the request comes from the desk: can you stretch your 200-word item into a 400-word one, perhaps adding some background material etc. etc.
We journalists also get to see the power of the word at close quarters, the power to make or destroy. And yet we use the word callously and cause a lot of hurt and damage sometimes. Things are going from bad to worse nowadays because of market competition, especially in the visual media.

Kalpana said...

going straight for clarity is the best way of communicating

I really liked this Venuji... and must say even I liked you nephew's poem (posted in the comments if I am not wrong). My lastest post is in a an experimentation of what you've said here ......

P. Venugopal said...

Sachin is my sister's son, Kalpana. In his 20's, he is in the same track I entered after 50. God save him. :-) What corrupting influence a disoriented uncle can have on a young nephew!
I have a copy of 'Great Urdu Poems' translated by Kushwant Singh. I was speaking of these poems when I said the tone of your poem reminded me of certain Urdu poems I had read.

Musings said...

Not sure good or bad influence, but the books you suggested and your blog does have an influence on me. I can see I have made a pact with lighter and let go attitude compared to grim,tough, "constipated" days..if I may use that phrase. I can say thats a visible change on my face :-). Thanks for your comment and winding my age back to the 20s.

P. Venugopal said...

oh, i forgot kannan. you are in your early thirties...? but you are still the child i used carry around.

P. Venugopal said...

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
I was going into the dimension of this Bible quote and feel empty.
Everything is God, the Word.
A vast ocean beyond oceans into the inconceivable in which each one of us have word electrons revolving round the nucleus of our limited perception of what is...