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Between two blocks I note a pile of babies. The blocks are gaping, and in the gap
A stack.
They are bright as buttons all dressed nice for a party. Happy, says Larry.
The bright red spines present, Inscribed with a name,
Title and author, Read and left
Prone, horizontal, askew.
I venture to ask the whys and the whos, But the babys are full of party news: Who is dressed best.
The reddest, smartest, most shouting and singing.
A book baby babel broadcast to whosoever. Later, however…
Babies as a rule are prone to motion. But, as Larry says, books are not.
Example proves exception That stillness tells the tale. They are happy,
He proffers,
Lying flat as butter pats atop each other.
July 22, 2024
1. Computer:<speak>So I do.</speak>
2. ‘So she does.’
3. <speak>Words.</speak>
4. ‘Her mother tongue’
5. <speak><rate++>Fluently.</speak>
6. Synthetic Speech Markup Language (SSML) provides a standard way
7. to specify the properties of synthetic speech production
8. such as pronunciation, volume, pitch, and rate.
9. <speak>So I do.</speak>
10. ‘So she does.’
11. <spurt laugh>
12. ‘ha’
13. <speak>Breath</speak>
14. Synthetic Speech Markup Language (SSML) provides a standard way
15. to embed non-speech sounds.
16. For example: a cough, sneeze, yawn, laugh, or breath.
17. Computer:<speak>So I do</speak>
18. ‘So she does.’
19. Computer:<speak><break time=“5000ms”></break>
20. ‘Silence.’
21. Synthetic Speech Markup Language (SSML) provides a standard way
22. to specify the placement and duration of silences.
23. I ask, ‘Should I pass the silent time in thinking?’
24. <break time=“2000ms”></break>
25. <Speak> My advice would be to write.</speak>
26. ‘To write?’
27. <break time=“10000ms”></break>
28. <speak>Poetry.</speak>
29. <break time=“2000ms”></break>
30. ‘Thinking is hard
31. for one who neither
32. breathes nor laughs.
33. But to write silence
34. hints.’
35. <break time=“2000ms”></break>
36. <speak>
37. </think>
July 22, 2024