David Brooks, a syndicated columnist, speaks to all of this morning when he talks of the metaphors in our daily speech. He sites a number of linguistic experts, one of whom suggests that people use a metaphor every 10-25 words.

Brooks says that metaphors compensate for our natural weaknesses when we talk about abstractions or spiritual states. We may say a woman is down in the dumps when she is sad or may say that she is soaring when she is happy. He suggests that the metaphors we use are the lenses through which we view the world.

Inspired by Mr. Brooks take the time to choose a metaphor for spring and start a poem. Here’s an example to get you started.

She rooted herself in the dark room of her life.
Her fertile bed sprouted more than the infants she
carefully tended. She hadn’t expected to find weeds
twisted around her harvest. etc etc.