Tag Archives: creative writing

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

“I don’t know which is more beautiful, the picture or the poetry. Together, they’re fireworks. The ability of artfully putting feelings into words is a rare, God-given gift. Kudos!” That’s what someone told me, a couple of days ago, on a social media platform.

I’ve been putting feelings into words for most of my life.

And I still enjoy every time someone mentions how they enjoyed something I wrote. Especially when They describe it the way that quote, above, did. Because they even acknowledged putting words in the feelings, the way I do is a “God-given gift.”

Yes, I believe God gave me the gifts of words and music. And I believe I’ll be eternally grateful for that. Because (ironically) I can’t fully explain the feeling I get when I complete a writing project. And I also can’t explain how I just can’t not write. It’s the one compulsion I’ve never overcome. In fact, I don’t want to.

Whatever God-given gift you have I hope it compels you to use it to share the power of God’s love with anyone who needs or wants to hear that message. Because I believe these kinds of gifts we receive are for that very reason. Not just putting feelings into words about the temporary stuff in this world.

By the way, the woman who wrote that compliment to my writing was talking about a rhyme I added to a beautiful photograph. The picture was a white frozen tree in heavy snow with the Aurora Borealis lights highlighting it from behind. And here’s my description of that picture…

The Aurora Tree

Boreal, surreal, and crystalline,
In splendid snow and lights of green,
I saw the branches dressed in white
As silence ruled the sparkling night.
I felt electrons spark through me
From inside the Aurora Tree.
And I felt like a lightning rod
Connected to the hand of God. © TF

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

One day, way back when, as I sat in my college dormitory room in Manhattan, Kansas, I looked out the window and saw feathery, floating flakes of snow. An early Autumn snowfall had just started. So, I knew it wouldn’t last. Or maybe wouldn’t even stick around at all.

So, as I did at just about every opportunity, I flipped open my nifty spiral notebook, grabbed my trusty Bic pen, and began to write. It was a love song I never wrote the music for. But to this day I can hear the melody in my head when I read the words.

A lot of my words and lyrics back then were vague. And filled with open-ended implications. I don’t think I always did it on purpose all the time. But sometimes I did. This was one of those…

Love Is Snow

I’m not borrowing the phrases
That you’ve heard so many times.
I’m just putting down my feelings,
And if by chance it rhymes,
It rhymes for you.

For the misbegotten melodies
That ring from birds an bells
Could sing not of the beauty
That my spy, the wind, foretells.
It tells of you.

Let me be sand
That tickles your toes.
Let me be air
That enters your nose.
And exits your mouth
In delicate sighs.
Then, let me be light
That sparkles your eyes.

I’m not borrowing the phrases
That you’ve heard so long and know.
I’m just putting down my feelings
Like the clouds put down the snow.

© 1974 Tony Funderburk
September 25
(includes secret 2024 revisions)

All that mush from the window of a dormitory room?

Yep. And I have a plethora of spiral notebooks with similar samples. From bedroom windows, car windows, office windows, and even openings that weren’t windows at all.

Of course, for 99.999% of the world my recollections and reminiscences mean next to nothing. Maybe right on to nothing. So, I don’t share them to gain some sort of fame or notoriety. Just to sort of connect the dots of my days here on this little blue planet. And if, by some odd chance, they strike a chord with you, then so much the better.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

OK, I know you’re shopping bags are at the ready. And you can’t wait for the stores to open. So, I won’t keep you long. You’ll have plenty of time to celebrate the birthdays of those small creatures.

Of course, you might be the oddball who doesn’t know which small creatures I mean.

I’ll give you some hints.

They were first introduced to the world back in the 1930’s. By a Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon and a Fellow of Pembroke College at Oxford. And, as a matter of fact, a book was published on September 21st, 1937, that provided the two small creatures you’re celebrating today.

(You ARE, aren’t you?)

Of course, the book is “The Hobbit.” And those small creatures are Frodo Baggins and Bilbo Baggins. And today is Hobbit Day. Hooray! Part of week of celebration called Tolkien Week.

Apparently Bilbo was born on this day in 2890 (1290 to you and me). And Frodo was born on this day in 2968 (1368 to you and me).

I guess the American Tolkien Society thought their birthdays were important enough to establish Hobbit Day back in 1978. And what I’ve been able to determine, it’s still an unofficial holiday. But I don’t imagine that’ll sway you from heading out to get your Hobbit Day shopping done as soon as possible.

Besides the Hobbit cake I’m sure you won’t forget the beer and wine. Or the pork pies. And mince pies. Naturally, you’ll be sure to include the honey cakes, scones, and coffee. Or else it wouldn’t be a true Hobbit Day party.

Tell your friends in the reading circle I said hello.

And be sure to let me know which book you read from or which movie you all enjoyed together.

Isn’t it nice that ol’ JRR took the time to write those amazing books? As you read them you might wonder how so much imagination and talent ended up in one brain. Or you might realize that Mr. Tolkien’s ability to turn a phrase came from the same source as all gifts and talents. Your Creator.

Tolkien realized it. And he acknowledged it often. On one occasion, he wrote an answer to the daughter of a friend of his. Because he discovered she wanted to know the purpose of life. And he explained that it’s “to increase, according to our capacity, our knowledge of God by all the means we have. And to be moved by it to praise and thanks.”

On that delightful note, let me just say,
I hope you have a happy Hobbit Day.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I scheduled myself to share this with you yesterday. Because the so-called “holiday” is supposed to be September 1. And obviously today is September 2. Well, it’s obvious to me. You might be reading this on another day. Anyway, I got sidetracked and forgot. The name of this holiday is based on an idiom that’s been around since the mid-15th century. “No rhyme nor reason” has been used by billions of people around the world. So, go out there and have fun today by using language in an interesting and fun way.

But first, a little history of National No Rhyme Nor Reason Day

It’s not clear (or maybe no one knows exactly) who specifically created this holiday. But the evidence is evidently abundant for where the term “No rhyme nor reason” originated. And when you do a little research, you’ll see the phrase was first used in the book “The Boke of Nurture.” John Russell’s book was published sometime around 1460.

Hmm…that would make it almost appear that puns didn’t originate with me. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to be satisfied knowing I’ve elevated them far beyond their humble roots.

And the phrase was then used in a comedy by none other than the bard himself, William Shakespeare. The well-known play, “As You Like It.”

So, one guy wrote “no rhyme nor reason” in his pun-titled book. Then, another guy used the phrase in a play. And that’s all it took to become something billions of people, all around the world, say. And now it’s got its own holiday.

Hey Louis Armstrong! Is this a wonderful world or what?!

In the spirit of the holiday here’s this for your perusal…

The light revealed the interstice,
Through which he would debouch.
This slender, blue homunculus,
Who wore a red tarboosh,
Was undeniably annoyed
As he tied his babouche
And straightened up his sweater
Made of ibex shahtoosh.
He blinked three times and ran to catch
A burgundy barouche.
And once inside he opened up
His journal and cartouche
To write a sonnet of his love
For Rosalinda Ruesch
And her delectable dessert
Of citrus croquembouche.
And now you have enjoyed one tale
Of Lazlo Link Latouche.

© 2022

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

No-cost, low-cost, and premium ways you can help me spread the Word…

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional
(emails with good stuff for Fa-Ree)

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers