A Lifestyle Portrayal from A to Z [Paperback]

Reuben Matiko (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2001

A Must for Astute Thinkers, and an Aid for Deft Speakers,
A Steady Reference for Teachers, for Writers and Great Preachers.
It has Singular Features for All of God's Creatures.
~
I would give little thought what others thought of me
If I could pass on to posterity integrity.
~
Life is like a pencil, be it slender or stout;
You can't make your mark without getting the lead out.
~
Grumbling, crabbing complaining, seldom expressing any gratitude;
Can a person be deemed a smart cookie while entertaining a vile crummy attitude?
~
Of "Someday," so many repeatedly speak.
Remember, my friend, it's not a day of the week.
~
Booze befuddled brains, big brawls, bumps and bruises;
I feel sorry for the person who this lifestyle chooses.
~
The die has been cast, don't live in the past;
Why would you dare. you've already been there.
~
Some folk aren't dead nor are they unbalanced -
They're electroencephalographically challenged.
~
Be a great lover, your love do cuddle;
Tis better to be a geyser than a stagnant mud puddle.
~
Why would you the date of your demise advance?
Live healthfully by choice and not by chance.
~
To have prolonged youth is the rage,- O, to have youth at old age;
A fabled incident on the go that I deem to be quite apropos.
~
Two Eskimos paddled their kayak to open sea.
They encountered a breeze that was somewhat chilly.
They elected to build a fire - for real - not a prank,
And as the sane would expect their trusty kayak sank.
There's a lesson to be learned as you sail life's blue -
"You can't have your kayak and heat it too."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

My love of poetry dates back many years, while still in my pre-teens, attending grade school in a single, coal-heated room with the absence of inside plumbing. It was situated on the correction line, four miles away from our farm home on the bald, open prairies of Saskatchewan, approximately fifty miles west of the city of Saskatoon. It wasn't Shakespeare or the classics that riveted my attention. It was the simple lines that I would glean from the "Winnipeg Free Press Prairie Farmer." I recall clipping some of the poems and pasting them into a six by nine loose leaf booklet which I have in my possession to this day. These were simple metered verses that told about life and its experiences on the prairies in the 'twenties' and 'thirties.' They were short creations, four, eight or twelve lines, some a bit longer, that in many cases didn't give recognition to the author. It was the Edgar Guest type of poetry. This form of verse was printed for the edification of us common farm folk.

Writing simple, metered poetic verse, much of it in the 'proverb' motif, became a hobby of mine. Several years ago I published a booklet, "Proverbs To Live By," and a leather-bound book entitled, "Living is Loving,and Loving is Giving.". The latter had three printings. It was used as a gift to donors to the university, by the Department of Development and Advancement at Loma Linda University, my alma mater.

Over the past fifteen years I have continued to write for my own pleasure and enjoyment, putting into simple poetic verse, thousands of two to four liners, some, much longer. Many of my friends and acquaintances encouraged me to put the poems into book form. One day, in my musings I wondered as to what I should name the book. In mulling things over I realized that all that we do in life is part and parcel of our "LIFESTYLE." I decided that I should give it the title, "A Lifestyle Portrayal from A to Z.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Verse without rhyme is a body without soul.
-Jonathan Swift ~~

Intellectual poetic thoughts, yes, occasionally a rare gem;
You'll find that some may even a questionable lifestyle condemn. ~~

So many wise maxims o'er the years have been written;
It should now behoove us by them to be smitten. ~~

Two classes of people o'er the years I have met;
Some read to remember and there are those who forget. ~~

Not later, rather sooner - now and then, a bit of humor.
The brief words of humor originate from faint rumor;
Most are quite terse, all in metered poetic verse. ~~

There is nothing one writes, though desiring to be good,
That will turn out as virtuous as one would hope it would. ~~

This analysis of writing very few have heard.
Journalese is writing old words in any order.
Good prose is the selection of thoughtful word.
Poetry, superb words - of unique order a hoarder. ~~

Poetry is quite simply a lovely method of addressing.
It's a visually impressive, effective mode of expressing.
It conveys deep significance and permanence with resonance;
Speaking with quiet elegance, and exquisite timely eloquence. ~~

Poetry is an art that selects and arranges
Symbols of thought that excite heart changes. ~~

Paintings are poetry, silent thought they seek.
On the other hand, proverbs are paintings that speak. ~~

My aim is to write verse, putting feeling into words,
Expressing thoughtful wisdom,and occasional wit;
Proverbs and aphorisms - lifestyles to direct,
Simple truth put beautifully, so folk will want to live it. ~~

Proverbs and maxims, one surely can't deny, Are 'wisdoms' that we should attempt to live by.

Product Details

• Paperback: 486 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing; Expanded edition (February 14, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155212620X
• ISBN-13: 978-1552126202
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,269,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)