Rat_Droppings's New Writeupshttp://everything2.com/?node=New%20Writeups%20Atom%20Feed&foruser=Rat_Droppings2001-04-04T07:03:49Zanthimeria (thing)http://everything2.com/user/Rat_Droppings/writeups/anthimeriaRat_Droppingshttp://everything2.com/user/Rat_Droppings2001-04-04T07:03:49Z2001-04-04T07:03:49ZA figure of <a href="/title/speech">speech</a> in which a word from one part of speech is used as another.<p>
Usually, a <a href="/title/noun">noun</a> is used as a <a href="/title/verb">verb</a>: "Let's <i><a href="/title/whiteboard">whiteboard</a></i> that thought,"
or <a href="/title/William+Shakespeare">Shakespeare</a>'s "I'll <i>unhair</i> thy head."<p>
Nouns turned into verbs are more common in <a href="/title/English">English</a>: Shall we <i><a href="/title/bus">bus</a></i> it <a href="/title/downtown">downtown</a>? <i><a href="/title/Smoke">Smoke</a></i> a <a href="/title/cigar">cigar</a>? <i>Verb that noun</i>?<!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>Terse verse (thing)http://everything2.com/user/Rat_Droppings/writeups/Terse+verseRat_Droppingshttp://everything2.com/user/Rat_Droppings2001-04-04T06:40:54Z2001-04-04T06:40:54ZForm of poetry using short lines and rhymes to make a point, usually <a href="/title/humorous">humorous</a>. Specific forms of terse verse include:<ul>
<li>A poem of just two rhyming words, introduced by a long title or <a href="/title/riddle">riddle</a>.<ul>
"What do you call the Educator from the Black Lagoon?"<br><ul>
Teacher<br>
Creature<br>
</ul>See also <a href="/title/hinky-pinky">hinky-pinky</a></ul>
<li>A brief <a href="/title/couplet">couplet</a> or four line poem with <a href="/title/rhyme+scheme">rhyme scheme</a> <i>abcb</i>
<ul>
Here's a couplet entitled "<a href="/title/November">November</a>," rare in that it isn't intentionally humorous:<ul>
No birds, no bees,<br>
No flowers, no trees.<br>
</ul>
More <a href="/title/typical">typical</a>:<ul>
<a href="/title/Ashes+to+ashes">Ashes to ashes</a>,<br> <a href="/title/Dust+to+dust">Dust to
dust</a>,<br> If it wasn't for women,<br> My pickle would rust.</ul>
And here's one from a <a href="/title/Burma+Shave">Burma Shave</a> ad:<ul>
<a href="/title/Train">Train</a> approaching,<br>
<a href="/title/Whistle">Whistle</a> squealing.<br>
<a href="/title/Pause">Pause</a>! Avoid that<br>
Rundown feeling.<br>
</ul></ul>
<p>
<i>Back to <a href="/title/Forms+of+poetry">Forms of poetry</a>
<!-- close unclosed tag --></i><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></li><!-- close unclosed tag --></li><!-- close unclosed tag --></ul>Everyone has a sofa to give away at some point in their lives (idea)http://everything2.com/user/Rat_Droppings/writeups/Everyone+has+a+sofa+to+give+away+at+some+point+in+their+livesRat_Droppingshttp://everything2.com/user/Rat_Droppings2001-02-09T01:45:17Z2001-02-09T01:45:17ZYou're ready to start again.<br>
New <a href="/title/apartment">apartment</a>, <a href="/title/new+furniture">new furniture</a>. New <i>you.</i><p>
But<p>
there's something in your past,<br>
holding you back.<br>
It's lurking, its hulking presence squeezing the hope out
of you.
<p align="center"><b>
The <a href="/title/sofa">sofa</a>.</b>
<p>
The one you inherited from your previous <a href="/title/roommate">roommate</a>/parent's basement/grandmother's <a href="/title/rec+room">rec room</a>/<a href="/title/frat+house">frat house</a>.
There's a scratch or two or a dozen on the cover.<br>
Maybe a <a href="/title/stain">stain</a> on the seat.<br>
Oh, there's no perceptible <a href="/title/smell">smell</a> there, <a href="/title/not+really">not really</a>.<br>
Just enough <a href="/title/duct+tape">duct tape</a> or <a href="/title/cat+hair">cat hair</a> or <a href="/title/loose+threads">loose threads</a> or out-of-fashion colors that the <a href="/title/Salvation+Army">Salvation Army</a> won't take it.<p>
The little voices start first as a whisper.<ul>
<i>Leave it on the sidewalk.</i></ul>
It's still perfectly good. Someone will want it. I could place an <a href="/title/ad">ad</a>. Or call my <a href="/title/cousin">cousin</a>'s friend with a <a href="/title/truck">truck</a>...<ul>
<i>Leave it on the sidewalk.</i></ul>
I do have to move by the end of the week, and I don't really have time to put up a <a href="/title/flyer">flyer</a>. Maybe there's<!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…