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Laziness

Laziness by Robert W Service
Let laureates sing with rapturous swing
Of the wonder and glory of work;
Let pulpiteers preach and with passion impeach
The indolent wretches who shirk.
No doubt they are right: in the stress of the fight
It's the slackers who go to the wall;
So though it's my shame I perversely proclaim
It's fine to do nothing at all.

It's fine to recline on the flat of one's spine,
With never a thought in one's head:
It's lovely to le staring up at the sky
When others are earning their bread.
It's great to feel one with the soil and the sun,
Drowned deep in the grasses so tall;
Oh it's noble to sweat, pounds and dollars to get,
But - it's grand to do nothing at all.

So sing to the praise of the fellows who laze
Instead of lambasting the soil;
The vagabonds gay who lounge by the way,
Conscientious objectors to toil.
But lest you should think, by this spatter of ink,
The Muses still hold me in thrall,
I'll round out my rhyme, and (until the next time)
Work like hell - doing nothing at all.

Twenty First Night Monday

Twenty-First. Night. Monday Poem by Anna Akhmatova
Twenty-first. Night. Monday.
Silhouette of the capitol in darkness.
Some good-for-nothing -- who knows why--
made up the tale that love exists on earth.

People believe it, maybe from laziness
or boredom, and live accordingly:
they wait eagerly for meetings, fear parting,
and when they sing, they sing about love.

But the secret reveals itself to some,
and on them silence settles down...
I found this out by accident
and now it seems I'm sick all the time.

Anna Akhmatova
Word of The Day Lackadaisical

Word of The Day Lackadaisical

LACKADAISICAL

Lackadaisical (adjective) describes someone or something lacking interest, enthusiasm, or effort, showing a lazy, listless, or half-hearted attitude. It implies a carefree indifference or a spiritless lack of energy, often seen in a person's approach to work or tasks. Synonyms include languid, lethargic, idle, spiritless, and unmotivated, while examples of usage involve "lackadaisical service" or a "lackadaisical attempt

📘 Definitions

Lackadaisical describes a relaxed, lazy, or indifferent attitude, especially one that shows little enthusiasm, effort, or concern.

without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; halfhearted:

lacking enthusiasm and determination or effort

✍️ Example Sentences

  • “His lackadaisical approach to studying meant he struggled to meet the exam deadlines.”
  • "taking a lackadaisical approach can jeopardize the success of a project"
  • "The coach was disappointed with the teams lackadaisical performance"

🌱 Why We Love This Word:

Lackadaisical is a wonderfully expressive word that captures more than simple laziness—it reflects a state of apathy or low energy that can affect motivation and outcomes. Recognising it helps us reflect on when slowing down is healthy and when it becomes a barrier to progress.

💬 Members’ Thoughts:

What does lackadaisical mean to you?

  • Have you ever noticed this attitude in yourself or others?

  • When is being relaxed helpful, and when does it become unproductive?

Share your reflections in the comments below and join the conversation.

Adventures in Colouring: The Ultimate Colouring Book for Kids

Adventures in Colouring: The Ultimate Colouring Book for Kids

In a world filled with screens and constant stimulation, Adventures in Colouring offers children something timeless, joyful, and deeply beneficial: the simple magic of colouring.

Created by Emerald Book Club, this vibrant colouring book is designed to spark imagination, support early learning, and encourage creative expression in young minds. Bursting with friendly animals, playful scenes, and bold illustrations, Adventures in Colouring invites children on a journey where creativity leads the way.

More Than Just Colouring

Colouring is more than a fun activity—it plays a vital role in child development. Adventures in Colouring has been thoughtfully created to help children:

  • Develop fine motor skills and hand–eye coordination

  • Improve focus, patience, and concentration

  • Build confidence through creative decision-making

  • Explore colours, shapes, and storytelling

  • Enjoy calm, screen-free moments of self-expression

Each page provides an opportunity for children to slow down, engage their imagination, and take pride in their creations.

A World of Friendly Adventures

Inside the book, children will meet a delightful cast of animals—from lions and elephants to giraffes, turtles, and monkeys—set in cheerful, nature-inspired scenes. The illustrations are bold, clear, and age-appropriate, making them ideal for little hands and growing artists.

Whether colouring independently or sharing the experience with parents, siblings, or teachers, Adventures in Colouring turns every session into a moment of connection and creativity.

Adventures in Colouring: The Ultimate Colouring Book for Kids

Designed for Home, School and Beyond

This colouring book is perfect for:

  • Home learning and creative play

  • Classrooms and early years settings

  • Quiet time, travel, and rainy-day activities

  • Gifts for birthdays, holidays, and special occasions

Its versatile design makes it a valuable addition to any child’s learning and play routine.

Part of the Emerald Book Club Vision

At Emerald Book Club, we believe in the power of books to inspire, educate, and connect communities. Adventures in Colouring reflects our commitment to nurturing young readers and creators while promoting creativity, literacy, and joyful learning.

This book is not just about colouring—it’s about encouraging children to explore their imagination and develop a lifelong love for books and creative expression.

Let the Adventure Begin

If you’re looking for a fun, engaging, and meaningful activity for your child, Adventures in Colouring: The Ultimate Colouring Book for Kids is the perfect choice.

Open the book, pick up some colours, and let the adventure begin—one page at a time.

£11.99

Join us on Goodreads

Join us on Goodreads

Greetings book lovers, readers and writers. introducing our Fabulous Goodreads group to you

What is Goodreads?

Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations. Our mission is to help readers discover books they love and get more out of reading.Read more

It is a place where you can see what your friends are reading and vice versa. You can create “bookshelves” to organize what you’ve read (or want to read). You can comment on each other’s reviews. You can find your next favorite book.

Launched in 2007 and acquired by Amazon in 2013, Goodreads is the world’s largest social media platform for book lovers. It functions as a digital library where users can track their reading habits, share reviews, and find recommendations.

Core Features for Readers

 

    • Virtual Bookshelves: Organize books into default categories like “Read,” “Currently Reading,” and “Want to Read,” or create custom shelves.

    • Reading Challenges: Set annual reading goals and track progress through a public tracker.

    • Discovery Engine: Receives personalized recommendations based on over 20 billion data points and the reading habits of friends.

    • Community Interaction: Join book clubs, participate in discussion forums, and follow “Ask the Author” sessions.

    • Kindle Integration: Sync reading progress, notes, and highlights directly from Amazon Kindle devices.

Goodreads for Authors

Published authors can join the Goodreads Author Program for free to manage their official profile.

 

    • Giveaways: Authors can host book giveaways to generate buzz and gain early reviews (currently limited to certain regions like the US and Canada).

    • Direct Engagement: Share blog posts and answer reader questions through a dedicated author dashboard.

Platform Challenges

While highly popular, the site has faced criticism for several issues:

 

    • Review Bombing: The platform is prone to coordinated negative rating campaigns (“review bombing”), sometimes even before a book is published.

    • Outdated Design: Users frequently note its dated user interface and manual moderation system, which can lead to slow response times for flagged content.

    • Regional Restrictions: Iranian users have faced account suspensions and removals due to sanctions and internal government blocking.

goodreads

Who uses Goodreads?

Women are 40% more likely than average to be active on Goodreads, while men are actually 40% LESS likely to show up. But perhaps women are just more social about their reading Compared to the ‘US average’ Goodreaders are also more likely to be aged under 35, have a grad school education and be ethnically Asian

Is Goodreads free?

Is it free to get books to read? Thanks for posting your question! Goodreads is a review and recommendation site where members can share their love of books with family & friends. That said, we do not have books available to read nor do we publish or distribute books.Aug 13, 2023

 Join Emerald Book Club on Goodreads!

Are you passionate about reading, discovering new books, and sharing your thoughts with fellow book lovers?
Our Emerald Book Club Goodreads Group is the perfect place to connect, discuss, and grow your reading journey.

What you’ll find inside:
• Book discussions & reading prompts
• Recommendations across genres
• Author features & community reads
• A supportive space for readers, writers, and poets

Whether you’re a casual reader or a devoted bookworm, there’s a place for you in our community.

Join us here: EMERALD BOOK CLUB GOODREADS GROUP

Read together. Share ideas. Connect through books.

Benefits of Joining

Benefits of Joining:
Discover new books and hidden gems
Take part in group reads and discussions
Share reviews and opinions in a supportive space
Connect with like-minded book lovers worldwide
Get access to author features, events, and reading prompts
Stay inspired and accountable with your reading goals

In the Green Mountains

In The Green Mountains by Jessie Rittenhouse

I dare not look away
    From beauty such as this,
Lest, while my glance should stray,
    Some loveliness I miss.

The trees might choose to print
    Their shadow on the lake;
The windless air might glint
    With aspen leaves that shake.

Over the mountains there
    A thin blue veil might drift;
Then in a moment rare
    This thin blue veil might lift.

Ah, I must pay good heed
    To beauty such as this,
Lest, in some hour of need,
    Its loveliness I miss.

The Brook

The Brook by Alfred Tennyson
I come from haunts of coot and hern,
I make a sudden sally
And sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down a valley.

By thirty hills I hurry down,
Or slip between the ridges,
By twenty thorpes, a little town,
And half a hundred bridges.

Till last by Philip's farm I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.

I chatter over stony ways,
In little sharps and trebles,
I bubble into eddying bays,
I babble on the pebbles.

With many a curve my banks I fret
By many a field and fallow,
And many a fairy foreland set
With willow-weed and mallow.

I chatter, chatter, as I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.

I wind about, and in and out,
With here a blossom sailing,
And here and there a lusty trout,
And here and there a grayling,

And here and there a foamy flake
Upon me, as I travel
With many a silvery waterbreak
Above the golden gravel,

And draw them all along, and flow
To join the brimming river
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.

I steal by lawns and grassy plots,
I slide by hazel covers;
I move the sweet forget-me-nots
That grow for happy lovers.

I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,
Among my skimming swallows;
I make the netted sunbeam dance
Against my sandy shallows.

I murmur under moon and stars
In brambly wildernesses;
I linger by my shingly bars;
I loiter round my cresses;

And out again I curve and flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.

The Woodpecker

The Woodpecker by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
The woodpecker pecked out a little round hole
And made him a house in the telephone pole.

One day when I watched he poked out his head,
And he had on a hood and a collar of red.

When the streams of rain pour out of the sky,
And the sparkles of lightning go flashing by,

And the big, big wheels of thunder roll,
He can snuggle back in the telephone pole.

Sea Fever

Sea Fever by John Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud by William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

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