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I Just Don'T Get English

It is pointless to write with dull pencils When a pen keeps the sheep safe at night. And water can flow from a hole in the ground As long as the spring’s not too tight. Cargo is sent from a shipyard But a shipment can go out by car. A wise man is often superior But a wise guy is usually subpar Tonight I will drive down the parkway, Yet park in the driveway at home. No wonder I can’t speak this language It only makes sense in a poem! © Dean Wood Oct. 26, 2017

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Line Gauthier

Date: 1/10/2025 1:21:00 PM

lol Dean ~ a fun poem

Suzanne Delaney

Date: 12/19/2023 4:31:00 AM

Seems like there a lots of opportunities for wordplay in our language. I enjoyed your clever expose this morning. Cheers, SuZ

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/19/2018 5:41:00 PM

very cute. It reminds me of some of the forwards I have sent people regarding the weird stuff about English and its spellings Except yours is poetic!

Dean Wood
Date: 10/8/2018 11:17:00 AM

Thanks Andrea. I am so glad I grew up with this crazy language. I would hate to have to learn it from scratch!

Becca Teagan

Date: 9/17/2018 8:53:00 AM

This is so cute, Dean! The English language can be so confusing, especially for those who learn it as a second language.

Dean Wood
Date: 9/17/2018 8:57:00 AM

Thanks Becca. So good to see that you are still checking in once in a while. I hope all is going well for you.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 9/12/2018 7:13:00 AM

The English language fun to lampoon! :)

Dean Wood
Date: 9/12/2018 4:03:00 PM

It it deserves every bit of it! Thanks Kim!

M. L. Kiser

Date: 9/12/2018 4:44:00 AM

Well, that'a another "Fav" for me; thanks for a super read.

Dean Wood
Date: 9/12/2018 4:03:00 PM

You flatter me M.L. Thank you for your buoying comment.

Rico Leffanta

Date: 9/11/2018 8:48:00 PM

The penultimate is THE winner! Aloha! Rico

Dean Wood
Date: 9/12/2018 4:02:00 PM

I like that one too Rico. It makes me shake my head in wonder!

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 9/11/2018 6:48:00 PM

With so many double meanings, some triple and quadruple meanings for the same words, no wonder English is one of the most difficult languages to learn. You have demonstrated this cleverly in your poem Dean. My daughter in law is from Japan and has struggled with being understood for many years. I give her a lot of credit in learning to speak English so well. My son speaks Japanese and taught English in Japan, but his wife speaks circles around him. : )

Dean Wood
Date: 9/12/2018 4:01:00 PM

Interesting Connie. I spent two years in Japan myself and taught my share of English classes. It is harder to teach than it is to speak! Thanks for your time and comment!

Rhona Mcferran

Date: 9/11/2018 6:30:00 PM

Clever use of homonyms... Nicely written! (No wonder English is so confusing as a second language!)

Dean Wood
Date: 9/12/2018 3:59:00 PM

Precisely Rhonda! Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

Ilene Bauer

Date: 9/11/2018 5:30:00 PM

very clever, dean! great rhyme, too...

Dean Wood
Date: 9/12/2018 3:58:00 PM

Thank you Ilene! Although at least one of those rhymes was subpar.