Tag Archives: language

Mona Kareem’s ‘Nights’: Stanza 1

Posted on May 23, 2023 by JMN

I’m pleased to encounter Mona Kareem in Poetry, May 2023 after first reading of her in Arablit & Arablit Quarterly. The Poetry issue prints the Arabic text of Kareem’s poem Lailayāt (“Nights”) along with a translation into English by Sara … Continue reading →

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Once More Into the Breach, Dear Solons!

Posted on May 22, 2023 by JMN

The country is experiencing mass mental health incidents in front yards, parking lots, retail centers, worship and entertainment venues, schools, parks, clubs, sporting events, parties — wherever 4 or more targets like to congregate. State governments are circling around the … Continue reading →

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On the Language Front

Posted on May 19, 2023 by JMN

This is a headline in USA Today: 3M fires long-time executive Michael Vale amid ‘inappropriate personal misconduct’ claims. We’re not savages. All misconduct, be it personal or professional, should be rigorously appropriate. This is from The New York Times: Ms. … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotations | Tagged , | 1 Comment

It’s About Being About Stuff

Posted on May 18, 2023 by JMN

It’s about God and Country. It’s about We the People. It’s about How the West Was Won. It’s about Living Off the Land. It’s about the Constitution. It’s about Good Policing. It’s about Secure Schools. It’s about Mental Health. It’s … Continue reading →

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Arabic and Me

Posted on May 17, 2023 by JMN

Pursuit of a resistant task, if persevered in stubbornly and passionately at any age, even if only for a short time, generates a kind of cognitive opiate that has no equivalent… The beautiful paradox is that pursuing things we may … Continue reading →

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Portmanteau Play

Posted on May 14, 2023 by JMN

I love classic portmanteau words such as “spurious” — a blend of “specious” and “curious.” It’s fun to invent new ones and fantasize that one day they, too, may “go viral” as the expression puts it. A triumph of mine … Continue reading →

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The Poem of as-Samau’al (Mid-6th Century AD): Verses 17-22 (End)

Posted on May 13, 2023 by JMN

This post is continued from here. 17 “Our fire was never snuffed out to a sojourner, and no traveller stopping over has found us wanting.18 “Our days are well known to our enemy. They have marked blazes and pasterns.19 “Our … Continue reading →

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Addled Addiction Ditty

Posted on May 8, 2023 by JMN

You get locked so hard into a wicked beatit’s hard to get locked out.You’re like rocked in you are so into it,so all you do is you rock out.Rock your socks off, get your rocks off,all fucked up is what … Continue reading →

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Lie, Lay, Etc.: Humdrum Conundrum

Posted on May 5, 2023 by JMN

I always lay my keys on the table when I get home. I laid them there an hour ago. They lay there undisturbed last night, and they’ll lie there tomorrow until I need the car. Using lie-lay-lain and lay-laid-laid according … Continue reading →

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The Poem of as-Samau’al (Mid-6th Century AD): Verses 12-16

Posted on May 3, 2023 by JMN

This post is continued from here. Several themes lace the segment. Equine imagery around insemination and baby-bearing evokes the “purity” of the tribal blood lines. The virtue of generosity is touched upon, along with an ability to exert dominance through … Continue reading →

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