We are using symbolism to communicate right now. Human beings are symbolic processors, not binary processors. What is a word but a symbol to represent a concept?

In writing, poetry, songs and graphic arts of all sorts, the use of widely understood symbols can greatly magnify the impact of the work. Symbols can communicate at a level deeper than words. But only if the symbol is widely understood and used appropriately to make the point. Studying the symbology of the masters shows you both what can be achieved and how to achieve it.

On the other hand much of the impact is lost when the audience no longer recognizes the symbols. That is why we sometimes have trouble understanding writers from long ago, their symbolic language is somewhat different. Kind of like trying to understand someone who speaks a different dialect.

I like the picture of authors as word engineers, a very apt picture especially for this group. Your comparison of a robot game to a poem was dead on.

Any comments Amber H?

WildStang Limerick
 

FIRST once inspired me to dabble in poetry. Here is my favorite effort:

WildStang Limerick ( February, 1999)

Our robot's a battleing giant.
It struts 'round the field all defiant!
As it crosses the rail
We've checked every detail
And it's even Y2K compliant!

He baits me! Can I resist?

I find the analogy of engineering a robot to writing a very good one as well. When you design and build your machine, should not all the parts down to the very screws be compatible and fit properly? If there is something not quite right, your mechanical creation breaks down.
When writing a novel, all of the parts down to the small details need to fit properly, or the story breaks down in some way. The reader often loses interest and stops reading.
I have been through eight rewrites of my last novel to make sure that the story made sense and did not break down in some way. Sometimes, I dropped useless details like a FIRST team would shave off extra bits to come in at the right weight for competition. Other times, I changed actions and reactions that were not consistent with a character’s behavior in the rest of the book, like A FIRSTer would perhaps make sure the fan belts (if used on the bot) were of the right tension, or perhaps the right wires went to the right places to transfer the right signal or amount of power to the proper destination.
I also use the input of proofreaders and interested parties to make sure that I haven’t missed anything. Would this be similar to someone on a FIRST team asking another team member or mentor for a second opinion or backup check of whatever he is working on?
I don’t know how other authors work, but I find input and points of view from others in the development process highly valuable. They help me to make sure I don’t miss those small, but key things that make the scene or character more real. They can help me to know if I have descriptive enough, or overdone it to the point it becomes tedious.
How many FIRSTers have been saved from making an apparently small but eventually disastrous mistake by following the wise input of another team member?

Yes, a story or poem must be carefully engineered if it is to have the maximum impact intended by the creator.
Is this not like a piece of machinery that must be carefully engineered in order to reach it’s full potential or efficiency?

Re: WildStang Limerick
 

I wrote a poem sorta like that (it delt w/ FIRST and our bot). It's on my site somewhere I think

Re: WildStang Limerick
 

O! How I do enjoy Limericks, those are prob. the only style of poetry i would enjoy reading - and this one is ever so wonderful!
:]

I have written and enjoyed all of lititure since i could read and write. Ever hear of the book "cryptonomicron"? its a 1,500 page book, really good i would suggest it! Anyway, here is a sample of some of the stuff i have written:

Love from the Sea
A snow of petals is all that can be seen, a sweet aura of roses hang in the air.
Walking through the forest, a breeze tickles my face.
The trees begin to thin; a setting sun can be seen over the horizon.
Slowly disappearing beneath the waves of the sea.
The gentle sound of waves lapping the shore is all that is to be heard.
So soothing, so calming, so peaceful they are.
The sun has dropped beneath the sea, swallowing it without a trace.
From behind a light shines, the light of the moon upon the land.
Everything bathed in a snowy white light.
A sound rises over the crash of the gentle waves, a sound of steps.
Looking to the sea, a figure moves, shadowed by the moon.
Walking closer, she holds a rose, a rose as white as snow.
Her lips move, no sound is heard, but I know what She said.
“I love you my rose.”
As she whispers these words, the wind roars, snowy petals are thrown between us.
It passes quickly, but she is gone.
Who was she?

That poem is really good. Has it been published?

in my school poetry thing, yes, but other than that, i just blog the bulk of it