The Prompt:
Page 39 of Room to Write asks us to draw at least 25 comparisons between 2 different things: something that’s around you right now, and something else that’s either an object, person, or concept.
I’m going to compare the old Victorian church outside my window to marriage 😉
Response:
1. Soulful, can inspire
2. Houses both joy and grief
3. Immense, sometimes imposing
4. Intricately constructed; always something new to see from a different angle
5. What appears outside is not always indicative of/relevant to what’s occurring inside
6. Wears with time
7. Built one brick at a time
8. Requires faith and commitment
9. Can be alive with song and community
10. Is empty when neglected, hollow and echoey
11. Fundamentally the same structure throughout time, yet must adapt the way it operates to change
12. Needs to be scheduled into a busy life
13. The lushness surrounding it periodically gets chopped away, but does grow back, and more lushly for it
14. Is a vessel of new life, on varying levels
15. You get out of it what you put into it
16. Can house hypocrisy
17. Can’t please everyone all of the time
18. Needs constant maintenance
19. Provides sanctuary
20. Provides education
21. Requires attentiveness—not just hearing, but listening
22. Requires reciprocal communication
23. Requires an open heart and mind
24. Cannot operate without thankless hard work
25. Comes around collecting, making you pay now and then
Reflection:
These were the first 25 things to come to mind, and I’m sure that some of them are redundant with each other—I found it getting really hard by around 18 or so! A very fun and brain-flexing activity, though, when trying to assess all that is similar between things otherwise so dissimilar to one another. Writing involves an abundance of comparisons, after all, as such devices as metaphor and simile help us communicate more vividly and stylistically, drawing parallels within the universe to illustrate the connectedness of all things.
The Fallen Monkey 
July 25th, 2010 at 16:19
Er…I cannot figure out what you’re comparing the church too, first I thought a human heart (not sure why…I’m just weird) – Maybe a human being…I don’t know *scratches head*
July 25th, 2010 at 16:25
*hee* I’m going to edit it now to just say what it is. I wrote it in a bad mood, so was afraid I was going to be too negative 😉
July 25th, 2010 at 20:13
What a great exercise to come up with fresh, original analogies and metaphors! Thank you for sharing it.
And WOW- those seem like two very different things yet you made 25 great similarities! 🙂 That must have been a fun challenge. And I liked how you lied down the negatives similarities along with the positive ones!
July 25th, 2010 at 20:31
Thanks, Lua! That was a hard one. I just kept staring out the window at the church roof tiles and thinking, ummm, ummm…And, yes, I was admittedly in a pissy mood, which would explain the healthy of balance of negatives with the positives—so I guess it also illustrates how timing/mindset impacts the results 🙂
July 26th, 2010 at 02:27
Wow, an amazing effort. I would have been stumped after two comparisons. But I love the idea. I’m going to give it a go.
Thanks for sharing.
x Lisa
July 26th, 2010 at 18:53
Aw shucks, thanks! Did you give it a whirl? I’m curious what you’ll compare…and you’ll be surprised how many comparisons you will come up with.
July 26th, 2010 at 07:34
Very nice way to jog your imagination and description skills. Like it lots! And congrats to you to do it so well. 🙂
July 26th, 2010 at 18:55
Much appreciated, Eva! I reckon that did help knock out a couple spiders and dust bunnies from my brain 🙂