Editor's note: WORD is thrilled to welcome our new blogger, Jennifer Hickey! Jenn is an adjunct professor at Mercy College in New York City. Although Jenn teaches writing and literature to college students, she is very excited to be speaking to readers of READ! Click on Jenn's image to read her profile.

Have you ever been somewhere like a train or the dentist's office ... or maybe at your very old, very eccentric Great Aunt Tilda's musty house ... and then suddenly became inspired to write about something unusual or ironic? But all you had to write with was a napkin or a field trip permission slip and not much time? Well, I have the perfect poetry form for you!

Back in the day, poets created gnomic verses or small poems that had some sort of riddle or proverb within the lines. These ancient Greek poets referred to these poems as simply, gnomes, meaning "an opinion". Gnomic poetry was also popular in Medieval times. Medieval poets considered gnomic poetry to be an excellent tool for commenting on the world and expressing truths. Sound difficult? It's easier than you think. Check this out:

Great Aunt Tilda's

So many things
that were once new now
permeated by moth balls and
her age old recipe for matzo ball soup.

Tada!

Here's how I did it... I'm at Great Aunt Tilda's apartment and the whole place just reeks of moth balls because for some reason she thinks it's much better to have a smelly apartment than the possibility of a few holes in her sweaters. As for the soup, well, she loves it and I always think of her when I see matzo ball soup, so, I added that into the poem. The word permeated is both literal and figurative because it refers to the smelly moth balls and the idea of Aunt Tilda's soup.

What does my gnomic verse say about Aunt Tilda's? I believe it's a commentary about who she is! A matzo loving lady who fears moths enough to endure stink! And that's quirky and funny, which is a huge part of being old.

Here's a few gnomic verses by the poet Robert Creeley:

Toffee
Little bit patted pulled
Stretched set let cool.

Here
You have to reach
Out more it's
Farther away from
You it's here

Winter
Season's upon us
Weather alarms us
Snow riot peace
Leaves struck fist.

Poetic inspiration is everywhere and autumn is filled with stimulating events for you to create some gnomic witty banter. You too can follow Robert Creeley's example.  Write a verse or two about your favorite presidential candidate. Oh wait... the election is over. Well then write a gnome to President Elect Obama! Possibilities are endless!

Editor's Postnote: Have a question for Jenn or want to leave a comment... or a gnome? Feel free to do so in the comments section below.

Today, we received the unexpected news that author Michael Crichton has died of cancer. In his 66 years, Crichton was a best-selling author, a filmmaker, and the creator of the TV show "ER."

Most of us best know him for the book Jurassic Park and its subsequent movies based on the novel. It is a sad day to get such news. And all we can do here at READ, is to thank Crichton for his fertile mind and wicked imagination that kept so many of us riveted to the page and screen. You did what authors should do--you brought great stories to life. We'll miss you.

Here ye, hear ye! (...not sure if it's "Hear" or "Here" so I'm using both. 99% sure it's "Hear" now that I think about it. Oh well, too late to change it.)

Today is election day. Some guy named McCain and some other guy named Obama both want to be president. Everyone likes one or the other, but here at READ, we like Poe.

WE LIKE POE! WE LIKE POE!

That's right, we like Poe. And in honor of Poe, we are celebrating his 200th birthday on January 19, 2009 with a brand new Weekly Reader web site. Have ya heard that you can be a part of it?

Get your video camera and film a special birthday tribute to the man who wrote such classics as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Rambo, the entire last season of LOST, and much much more...

Wait... what?

Don't worry about it. All will be explained on January 19th. In the meantime, click here to visit our TeacherTube page where you can upload your video birthday wishes.

P.S. The video lies. It says "Upload your videos here", but really it means

UPLOAD YOUR VIDEOS HERE.

This just in...

There's a fairly new website that is dedicated to rapping the news. It's called The Week In Rap and is conveniently located at www.theweekinrap.com. The site is put out by the guys at Flocabulary, who have rapped on Shakespeare for READ in the past, and, coming soon, will be rapping for us on Poe as well.

If you want to get your news in a fun, enlightening way, check out The Week In Rap.

Here is a taste. Word.

The Week in Rap 10-31-08 from Week in Rap on Vimeo.