As a science trained person I have to say the sun neither rises nor sets, it
only appears to do so. It is in fact the earth that turns towards or away
from the relatively static Sun. But I do not mind using sunrise and sunset
myself and I am really only being teasingly dogmatic and pedantic. *smiles*
Arthur----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Horwood" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 1:33 PM
Subject: Clichés - Frank, Sue, Bob, Marcus, Ryfkah


Many thanks for your responses to my query on this topic. The general gist
seems to be; steer clear of clichés if you would be using them in their
standard sense, but you may be able to `twist´ a cliché so that it appears
in a new light with a new sense.
My next problem, though, is; what exactly is a cliché? There´s no problem
identifying the very well known one´s - He was on his last legs but he put a
brave face on it and set his nose to the grindstone. But is there a grey
area? - typical combinations of words that are frequently used in everyday
communication. For example, is ´he stood with pounding heart´ a cliché? If
one changed `pounding´ to `beating´ would it still be a cliché? If one
changed `pounding´ to `wavering´ I guess it wouldn´t be a cliché (or would
it?) but it wouldn´t mean the same. If one changed the phrase to `the blood
beat in his temples´ we are back with a cliché (aren´t we?) So if a poet,
any poet, wished to include this sensation in a poem, how is (s)he to do it?
And just how strict and self-critical does the poet need to be? Should we be
suspicious of combining the noun `sun´ and the verb `rise´? It´s been used
so many times, after all. Isn´t it a cliché to keep naming those tall things
in the garden that are covered with leaves `trees´? In a sense all language
is a cliché, that´s why other people can recognise the meaning.
Does anyone have futher thoughts on this?


Best wishes,   Mike