I have been thinking about how single words can inspire days and years of creative thought. The academic type can write a whole dissertation or even a series of thick books on single phrases from ancient texts. The greatest songwriters and poets do the same, transforming a simple concept into a work of art. Its pretty amazing how much significance a small thing like a word can have.
Lately there have been a handful of words that keep popping up in my peripheral thoughts (and in my peripheral vision), but I haven’t quite been able to understand their greater significance. In an attempt to organize the rambling internal prose that these words have set off, I am providing definitions along with a short idea of their possible metaphoric meaning. The definitions all come from my roommate’s Webster II New College Dictionary.
Ricochet: To rebound from a surface
I think, scientifically, a collision between two moving particles (or one moving particle and a stable surface) also causes the particles to slow down a bit in addition to changing directions. I like picturing a person wandering or floating along, focusing on something in the distance coming closer (a career? an event?), bumping into that thing full-force, and heading off in another direction as a result. The person takes a deep breath, turns to face the new path, and heads on their way a bit slower than last time, with another out-of-focus thing in the distance – maybe close or maybe far away.
Pace: The rate of movement or progress; to set or regulate the rate of speed
For years I couldn’t get exercise from going running. I would start out too fast, get tired quickly, and walk home after going only a half-mile or so. When a friend suggested I run as slowly as I possibly could, I realized I could run quite far – I learned the meaning of pacing myself. Now I am able to pick a distance before I run and set a pace that will carry me through it. When we all finished college, its like we flew out of the house in new sneaks and bolted for the running path. Thankfully, I think my short “run” was followed by an even shorter “walk home” and I’m more cognizant of my pacing these days.
Muse: 1. To consider or meditate at length, 2. A guiding spirit; a source of inspiration
No metaphor here, really. I was just thinking that most of the people or things I would consider my “muses” are actually just people I disagree with or things that frustrate me. But I always thought a Muse was supposed to be a happy, romantic thing.
Thinking about words is fun. Anyone else have any faves?
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