The Word Wizard was handing out words and all the best poets in the land were eagerly lining up to see what their assigned word for the day would be. Their challenge would be to weave this word creatively into a poem – rhyme it, if possible – and report back to the poetic assemblage at the end of the day. Today’s offering was resplendent with possibility: flabbergasted, rambunctious, lollygagging, falderal, hornswoggled, highfalutin, rutabaga. . .
One by one, the poets scurried off, though one young fellow, only recently named Poet Laureate of his village, shook his head in bewilderment and was heard to mutter as he ambled off, scratching his head: My stars! Holy cow!
Love this Marjorie.
First off – short and to the point, and then that list of indented words – part of the instruction (?), I guess. I love the young guy just walking away from it.
Don’t we all feel that way sometimes?
Lovely piece!
Cheers. j
hi Marjorie,
thanks for sharing. what strikes me about this piece is its insistence that the sacred lives most expansively in the mundane. a poet, given a list of extravagant words, says something far more poetic in common exclamation with poetic timing.
What a fun read! Made me smile this morning. That list of words – some of my favorites! “Rutabaga” sort of breaking a pattern in a wonderful way that takes the mind on a different path.
The reaction of the young poet another surprise. I’d love to read some of the poems this assemblage of poets comes up with.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Marjorie, love the tale and the tone. The play on poets, poetry and the actual composing or originating from prompts. The send-up, in a sense, of our entire course, or structure, or any competition of any field. It’s fun, irreverent, the list of words is terrific_ they all feel a tad “archaic?” Maybe throw a modern word to mix it up? I often enjoy what 5- 10 words have been added annually to Webster’s Dictionary! I think another possible twist, especially given the current backdrop of what we are all dealing with, might be to change “fellow” to “female.” or whatever equivalent word works for you. A fun piece, filled with so much fodder for so few words.
Marjorie,
Lovely little flash. So creative. The list of words is perfect! Lollygagging is one of my favorite words.
Really like the “one young fellow.”
And the voice is so interesting.
Thanks for sharing.