Life is mostly froth and bubble
“Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another’s trouble,
Courage in your own.”
Adam Lindsay Gordon, Australian poet.
I heard this quote last Sunday on the Australia wide radio programme, “Australia All Over.” Someone ringing in to the programme read out the whole poem which was quite beautiful. I have quoted only the last four lines.
These words are not only beautiful, they are heavily ironic when you realise the tragedy of the poet’s life. Adam Lindsay Gordon’s life was mostly “froth and bubble” as he dissipated a large inheritance from his mother on frivolous living. His first love was horses, both in breaking them and in riding them, interests that are strongly represented in his poetry.
As a horseman he received much recognition throughout the fledgling Australian colonies. Coupled with this was a growing reputation as a poet with several volumes to his credit at the time of his death. His interests were broader than this, and he even served a term in parliament.
He evidently had many trusted and supportive friends but even their kindness could not prevent the tragedies of his life. Financial mismanagement, personal loss such as the death of his only child and a reckless approach to many physical activities took their toll. His volume of poetry Bush Ballads and Galloping Rhymes was published on 23rd June 1870. The next morning he took his own life, age 37.
Sadly, the courage he wrote of in the poem I quoted above had deserted him.
Early Childhood Reading
Today I read a very interesting article in our local newspaper, The Murray Valley Standard. The article included details of a recent visit to the district of children’s author, teacher and academic, Mem Fox. She is the author of the picture book Possum Magic, probably the most popular Australian children’s picture book world-wide.
Mem Fox is passionate about promoting children’s books and reading in particular. She is a strong advocate of the importance of parents reading to children from an early age.
She said if parents did not invest early in childhood reading their child would struggle in school. “I’m just getting crosser and crosser at those who are blaming teachers for their children not being able to read,” she said. “My main message is that parents should be reading to their children from the first weeks of their life. It only needs to be for 10 minutes [a day].”
I whole-heartedly agree with her. For 35 years I was a teacher of children mainly in the 6 to 9 age range. For eight of those years I was a teacher-librarian, a role where I could influence the classroom practices of teachers. But I was generally talking to the converted as most teachers know the benefits of parents reading to their children. Convincing the parents was a more difficult task.
Reading to and with children, especially pre-schoolers, is THE one very positive activity parents can do to ensure the future educational outcomes for their children.
It is not just important; it is crucial.
What do you think? Leave your comments about children and reading in the comments below.
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You are not a writer unless…
Do you call yourself a writer?
What have you written today? This week? This month?
Unless you write regularly, you cannot call yourself a writer. Too many people just dream of being a writer. They are in love with the idea of being a writer. They don’t actually ever write anything, or if they do, their writing activities are so sporadic, unplanned, lacking direction and purpose that they might as well call themselves a donkey – or whatever.
When I was a teacher (in another life) I taught. When my brother was a farmer, he worked on his farm. When another brother was a chef, he cooked. When… I think you get the picture. A writer writes. Period.
I’ve just read a great little article called Top 5 Reasons You Should Stop Calling Yourself a Writer, Right Now. It is well worth the visit – and some serious self examination. I can tick all five points made in the article – can you?
Movies about writers: Down with Love
Down with Love starring Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger was recently shown on a local television station here in South Australia. The short review in the television guide attracted my attention. Here was another movie about writers; in fact, both of the main characters are writers.
McGregor plays the part of a popular journalist while Zellweger’s character is a popular writer for women. Set in the 1960s she writes a blockbuster pre-feminism book encouraging women to put career before love. This popularity makes her the target of journalist “Catch” Block (McGregor) who is determined to bring her down. Block is a compulsive womaniser and pursues her relentlessly, all in the cause of writing about her in a scathing way.
The movie contains very little about the process of writing nor comments much about the life of a writer. It focusses almost entirely on the relationship between the two main characters and the two supporting roles.
This is billed as a romantic comedy. I found it to be nothing but a pointless piece of fluff with a few mildly humourous moments. My wife enjoyed it and my daughter said it was hilarious, but I’m not about to rush out and buy the DVD for my collection.
You are never too old to become a writer
Far too many people reach their retirement or their mature years and regret not having followed their dreams of being a writer. Life tends to get in the way. The pressures of making a living, caring for the family, building up a business or whatever often prevent people from realising the joy of writing and of having that writing published.
It is against this background then to read of the man who recently had his first book published at the age of 96. And he is working on a second book. How wonderful. I applaud him for his perseverance and for never letting his dream die.
Into his 90s, decimated by the loss of his beloved wife, and alone at night with the memories of a rough and sad childhood spent battling an alcoholic father and vicious anti-Semitism, Harry Bernstein decided to write.
What started out as almost a form of therapy eventually turned into a book called ”The Invisible Wall” that chronicles his childhood in a northern England mill town and _ considering that it wasn’t published until he was 96 _ serves as an inspiration for aspiring authors.
Bernstein began writing ”The Invisible Wall” when he was 93 as a way to deal with his memories and the loneliness he felt after his wife of almost seven decades, Ruby, passed away from leukemia in 2002.
Read the whole story here.
His story reminded me of a recent interview I heard on Australian National radio. During the interview the obvious joy of being alive came through so strongly. This man learned to fly a plane at age 71. He took up stunt flying at age 75 and won aerobatics championships in his 80s and is still flying stunt planes at age 92. Again, I applaud his proactive view of life.
It is never too late to start your writing career.