Home » Poems » Jack Ellison » Strange and Silly Words

Strange and Silly Words

They said “he went on a bender” What in tarnation is a bender And what is “tarnation” anyway Is English still on the agenda? “Befuddled” is another strange word Think it means all “verschimmelt” What in hell does verschimmelt mean Not even sure how it's spelt “Winklepickers” are boots from the 60s It's not often used in a poem So obsessed by strange sounding words They keep popping up in my dome Can't get off this weird word kick The stranger the word the better Dreamt I was champ in a spelling bee The last word had seventeen letters Well so much for my “braggadocio” Or boasting as the dictionary says Guess I sound pretty high on myself Think I might even run for Prez! © Jack Ellison 2013

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Donna Jones

Date: 4/26/2013 4:51:00 PM

Hey Jack...you think your crazy..with these words,,,I learned a song at church camp when I was 8 or so that I won't forget EVER...this is just the TITLE... Anna cootcha catcha canna tosa nara tosa Nocca sammal camel wacky brown .....this is a girlsname and so the song goes...

Jack Ellison
Date: 4/27/2013 8:02:00 AM

My dear wife Cathie says they had some songs like that too when she was at camp! I like to think of myself as a word aficionado-in-training! LOL

Donna Jones
Date: 4/26/2013 4:53:00 PM

On an on....so long she falls in a well and drowns because it takes so long to say her name...what a song to learn at church camp...

Russell Sivey

Date: 4/26/2013 3:10:00 PM

I would vote for you Jack when you run for President, no matter what anyone would say! I think that's funny what Carol said below as I am the sponsor for that contest! I hope that she submitted that poem as I would love to read it! Your poem here is full of special words, a glockenspiel would be a fine word for this poem as well, how you would use it would be up to your vivid imagination my friend! I really loved reading this incredible poem this afternoon! What a awesome piece, Great Work!!

Jack Ellison
Date: 4/27/2013 7:57:00 AM

Well that's two votes... my dear wife would vote for me too! Love that Carol... she's cuckoo just like me! Thanks my good friend! Keep laughing, it's good for the soul... Jack

Timothy Hicks

Date: 4/26/2013 3:00:00 PM

I'm a bit of a word-geek myself. Didn't wish to leave you gravely befuddled, by showing you that what-in-tarnation-word. But, alas, I was on a bender, and just had to show you it. Peace... may the dictionary always be your friend.

Jack Ellison
Date: 4/27/2013 7:52:00 AM

The dictionary has always been my closest friend! So from one word-geek to another... adieu, adios, bye-bye, cheerio, ciao, godspeed, so long, toodle-oo!

Timothy Hicks

Date: 4/26/2013 2:57:00 PM

Jack... if you want a truly, TRULY bizarre word here's one for you. It's not an English word, mind you. It's a word I learned in Wales and it is the longest place-name in Europe. Here it goes... Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch... best of luck on pronouncing that ;)

Jack Ellison
Date: 4/27/2013 7:48:00 AM

My wife said she's heard that word and tried to pronoun it... they said her stay in the hospital would be quite short! LOL

Carol Eastman

Date: 4/26/2013 11:12:00 AM

Bravo! I just got off a bender myself, you might say... You see, I saw a contest for 'Enlightment, Hope, and Harmony'... Well I couldn't help myself... So my Dragon is starring in 'Enlightment of the Kung Poo Master'... Showing today! Only on PoetrySoup... LOL... OOOPPS... I don't think this is what the contest sponser intended... But it was FUN to write... and ought to be FUN to read... Truly yours...

Jack Ellison
Date: 4/26/2013 11:31:00 AM

Sure had to look up some of these peculiar words! Ever heard of "Winklepickers"... not me! Heading over to check out your "Enlightenment of the Kung Poo Master"! Poo Master??? big huggeroonies xoxox