[Steely Tom]

Actually, the original quote (from Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises) is "Gradually, then suddenly."

Illustrating the power of his commitment to brevity.

Hemingway believed that words — once removed by aggressive editing — left behind a sort of ghostly residue that could be detected by the reader; that these "word ghosts" provided a subtle sort of "heft" to the remaining prose.

[spankalib]

Hemingway believed that words — once removed by aggressive editing — left behind a sort of ghostly residue that could be detected by the reader; that these "word ghosts" provided a subtle sort of "heft" to the remaining prose.

Nice post! I've evolved much the same opinion in my writing, but the (brevity) idea is on steroids when it comes to poetry! -IMO.

Christ the Coke Machine

We sin.
Then confession's coin rolls in.
Out bounces sweet can of forgiveness.
We drink it all down
with barely a frown
for myrrh-mingled wine’s sour business.