Augmented Text

A format now emerges as I contemplate the form
My novels and poetic words gestate ’till they are born –
Big pages, photo-illustrate, and scrapbook out their spreads,
So as folks read and contemplate augmented thought is read.

In ways, it’s like a magazine with chapters flowing out
As entities, and lines “called out”, and pictures all about;
With graphic lines and elements to fancy up each page,
But with a book as entity, each reader to engage.

A picture’s worth a thousand words (or word a fraction of
Its value when it’s made with punch to move along some cause);
From ads and promos, sleek designs, and layouts by the score,
I glean ideas, mix-and-match, to novel’s words add more.

“Augmented text” I’ll call this form of output that I seek
To use to upgrade for this age, to bring within the reach
Of all who wish to story read or hear it read to them –
Augmented text perhaps could help them enter life again.

Lord, I recall that book from when I courted ’fore we wed –
“Creative Brooding” it was called – each part was daily read;
A Scripture passage and the text, with clippings from the news,
Laid out for readers challenges to long-held, cherished views.

Augmented text could be that way with graphics added in;
Effect the same – enrich each mind, rich harmonies begin,
So when one finished story-line they could begin again,
And find their minds stretched far beyond sheer pleasure, thought, or pain.

Lord, photo-illustration I can do, and do it rapidly;
My punchy-pictures from the past could find a place to be
Laid out and harnessed to augment the task of novel themes,
So storyboards emerge once more, built on from where they’ve been.

My film-group work, and video, my slide-tape output too,
Now mix into augmented text – so easy now to do
With software like “Creative Suite” enabling the task;
I see a blessing flowing out – much more than tools from past.

With POD like Lightning Source I sense this could be fun –
Old texts, and new released again to have another run;
And electronic readers built to read augmented text,
Could then enrich one strata more as hyperlinks come next.

Lord, I’ve a dozen books in draft, as well as trilogy;
A whack of poems on the web, and notes of what I see;
My “Run-Thru” notes on Scripture text, and other’s books to date –
What fun augmented text could be – editions knew I’d make.

That takes the “Book Club” enterprise and draws a project out –
“ Augment one book, together make (like YouTube songs) about
Their thoughts as they’ve perused the text, reflected in their ways,
And shared with other folks their thoughts” – enriching future days.

Take scrapbook skills, advertisements, brochures, and flyers bright;
Adapt their skills and use their ways to shed a little light
Upon some text – augment its thought with editing affect,
Like news has done for centuries, and scribes with gilded text.

O Lord, it’s like life’s opened up – so much – so little time,
Which says to me, draw others in, add others' skills to mine;
Don’t do it all but let the group augment each text we do;
Increase the output from your pen, augment your point of view.

Could this replace the text someday found now within our schools?
As students now augment the words and paint outside the rules –
As people seek to understand so they can teach this way
Their autodidact-culture finds a form where it can stay –

First Nations (Cree I’m thinking of) raise up their kids this way;
The tasks of life and learning’s theirs and with them let them stay;
So harness all that energy from culture, let it flow
To illustrate life-concepts learned – augment the text they know.

navigation