Tuesday, March 03, 2009

wordtherapy

Some people drink when they're depressed. Some sleep. Some write limericks.
laconic
la⋅con⋅ic /ləˈkɒnɪk/ [luh-kon-ik]
–adjective
Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise: a laconic reply.

Still waters they say, quite ironic,
run deep 'neath the quiet laconic.
Rejoinders so terse
might intimate worse:
like someone who's 'most catatonic.
peripatetic
per⋅i⋅pa⋅tet⋅ic  /ˌpɛrəpəˈtɛtɪk/ [per-uh-puh-tet-ik]
–adjective
1. walking or traveling about; itinerant.
2. (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to Aristotle, who taught philosophy while walking in the Lyceum of ancient Athens.
–noun
3. a person who walks or travels about.
(A modified limerick, then:)

There once was a peripatetic
who roamed on a wooden prosthetic.
His gait grew frenetic
and almost pathetic
from drinking a potent emetic.
shibboleth
shib·bo·leth (shĭb'ə-lĭth, -lěth')
–noun
1. A word or pronunciation that distinguishes people of one group or class from those of another.
2. A word or phrase identified with a particular group or cause; a catchword; A commonplace saying or idea.
3. A custom or practice that betrays one as an outsider.
Betrayed by his nelly shibboleth
and protesting impediments a myth,
"Velveteen pantaloons
and classic show tunes,
just prove I am very chivalrouth."
Goofy as it seems, I can't even tell you how much better I feel. My only regret is that these limericks are are not dirty at all.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is nothing better than rhyming "velveteen pantaloons" with "show tunes." You are lyric genius.

Epiphenita said...

why thank you t.o.d., i've waited so long to put that outfit together.

fimbulwinter said...

Word salad is the schizophrenic's shibboleth.

Epiphenita said...

I love me some word salad. So what are you saying?

dragonfly lady said...

Sista decries her language skills poor
Talent by one need not make one sore,
But revel delight
By sista's insight
Please may I have some limericks more?