Sunday 21 May 2017

Malfuf wa Malik*

‘The time has come,’ the Walrus said,
        ‘To talk of many things:
Of shoes – and ships – and sealing-wax –
        Of cabbages – and kings –
And why the sea is boiling hot –
        And whether pigs have wings.’


This is a bit of a departure from the usual poetry trip that characterises this blog. Though I do realise it is not an auspicious start to begin a non-poetry post with a quote from a famous poem. It is inappropriate to appropriate verses from a renowned writer to do the work of your prose. Inappropriate and ironical and cheeky. Not a good beginning. Let’s start over.
  

All through last month I posted these mile long posts. I chopped like mad, entire subheads got the axe, para after para, and still the magic 300 was nowhere in sight. As you can imagine, a lot of topics and random facts and figures and opinions are now sloshing around aimlessly in the brain and drafts. So I thought why not unleash them on whoever stops by here? Let’s spread it even? Like frosting on a cake, only much less fattening.


So. Here it is, a space to talk about malfuf wa malik from the edits and chops of the blogging life. Something that doesn’t fit the letter, or the theme, or the poetry or anything else remotely resembling sanity. And doesn’t go gently into the dark headspace either, keeps raging and squirming to get out into the light. 


I shall be airing them out once in a while – both the cabbages and the kings. Check it out at your own risk. I’m only promising what I can deliver - a long rambling post. Underpromise, overdeliver. One of the old-fashioned, core principles of services marketing.  I’m not sure this 'ere blog is a service exactly, probably the polar opposite, but never mind, the principle at any rate is worth something, very solid. No harm in keeping the principles in good working order, yeah?


Coming soon... a turn in ye olde perspective and who exactly brought that about...watch this space...




*Malfuf - cabbage
 Malik - king 






28 comments:

  1. I grew up with Lewis Carroll - and adore the Jabberwocky in particular.
    And I will be very happy to read any expansions of your A-Z you give us.

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    1. Me too - a fan of the Tumtum tree's shade :)

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  2. Sometimes we have to break free from our confines. Do it.

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  3. Oh, I am ready too.

    By the way, I love the Lewis Carroll poem you started with. I would read it to my sixth graders. They were never as impressed as I.

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    1. The older I get the more impressive Carroll seems. Your sixth graders will get to that point sometime.

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  4. I look forward.

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    1. Thanks, a break from poetry maybe once a month...

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  5. Hi Nila - brilliant to read this and letting us know about Malful-wa-Malik ... I love that poem ... and am delighted to read you're going to be adding to your posts ...

    You gave us such a wonderful review of the Arab world in the A-Z Middle East North African series... so I shall wallow some more in your world ... delightful - cheers Hilary

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    1. It's going to be a bit more personal than the A-Z but hopefully fun. Hope you're having a great weekend!

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  6. Wonderful verse prelude to a wonderful post.
    Lovely to read on this Sunday morning.

    Yvonne.

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  7. Yes, your blog is a public service. Don't ever question that again! At least not in the blog!

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  8. Hadn't heard that poem in eons! Curious about what is to come. 😉
    Visit me at Life & Faith in Caneyhead. :)

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    1. I keep going back to bits and pieces of Carroll and this one's a frequent bit :) thanks for stopping by

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  9. To me, anything you didn't include in your A to Z is probably as fascinating as what you did include. If you write it, i will do my best to get over here and read it!

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    1. Thank you, most of the stuff I found/find is kind of endlessly and low key fascinating, there's just too much of it :)

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  10. Until I dropped in I hadnt realized how much I had missed your particular brand of humor :)

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    1. Humour? this is serious whinging :) thanks for visiting!

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  11. Wonderful, maybe I'll even get here more often than during the A to Z! Sorry about that, wow, sometimes we do take on too much. Getting caught up now, though, I hope! :)

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    1. You did/are doing a great job with your crowded plate Yolanda! Thanks for being here.

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  12. I look forward to the cabbages and kings. We shall smile like the Cheshire Cat. Not shout off with her head like the Red Queen. Cheers

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    1. The Cheshire Cat and the Red Queen - both favs, so you could do either and make me happy :)

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  13. This should be more than interesting. Looking forward to all your posts!

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  14. I remember that Lewis Carroll poem so well. :) Whatever insights you want to expand upon from your A to Z theme are most welcome. It was an enlightening experience. Bring it on! ☺

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    1. I love the poem - and this was odd, because, you know, they hadn't any feet! :) - thanks for visiting

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