L Milton Hankins Poet Light Verse

It Is What It Is

“It is what it is” works like a charm --
One could say “it’s what it’s,” no harm,
For "it’s" stands for “it is,” in the grammar book
A fact every careful writer should not overlook.
“Its stand is admirable”; never “It’s stand is admirable”
In writing poetry, the correct form is desirable! 
“It’s” doesn’t work when writing “its lack of pizzazz”
It’s is a contraction for “it is,” I repeat, and all that jazz
While “its” denotes “belonging to,” rightfully,
Use them correctly and your poem reads delightfully.

If I am wrong, please let me know right away
“It’s” a pet peeve of mine; “its” incorrect usage drives me insane,
When used incorrectly in a poem, indeed,
It tells me you did not proofread!

written February 2, 2022

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Bill Baker February 20, 2022 at 10:16 AM I agree with you, Milt. Bill

Caren Krutsinger February 3, 2022 at 8:00 AM It's odd that I just wrote about its and its' in the last comment to your other poem! It's the way it was meant to be! Same wavelength! L Milton Hankins February 3, 2022 at 8:54 AM You got that right, Caren. I'm a stickler for its and it's. I have no idea what its' stands for...a plural possessive?

Shirley Hawkins February 2, 2022 at 6:56 PM it's relevant. L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 7:24 PM Well, I hope so, for almost every day I come upon a poem where the writer has confused it's and its. They don't seem to understand it's an avoidable mistake if, every time they write "it's" they should try "it is" and if that doesn't work, then the correct form is its. Simple? So simple.

Sand Blown February 2, 2022 at 1:23 PM ...if...'it is what it is'....then....is it 'what' 'is it'.....'is' means being....so....is 'it' what is as is....or imaginary?.....stans sand (nice title) L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 1:26 PM It appears as though you completely missed the point, sand blown, but, then, I expected that some Soupers would.

Paulette Calasibetta February 2, 2022 at 1:15 PM A good grammar lesson in poetry form...may help those who need remembering the rule. :)Paulette L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 1:17 PM Thanks, Paulette. I'm just hoping those who need it most will take notice! Your thoughts are always appreciated.

Tom Cunningham February 2, 2022 at 12:30 PM 100% Rule, If you cannot expand your "it's" to "it is" or "it has," then it is wrong. Tom L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 12:32 PM Absolutely. Every time I use "it's" I try to remember to do just that!

Ilene Bauer February 2, 2022 at 11:57 AM i agree wholeheartedly! i once had an argument with a cafeteria worker in the middle school in which i taught because, on the blackboard listing the lunch specials, she wrote "French Frie's" and would not let me change it! she insisted that was the way she learned it in parochial school and the nuns were never wrong! L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 12:09 PM Oh my goodness! Well, in that case, the nuns WERE wrong! This type of thing really suggests a poor education, and that is why it is so odious in writing poetry for public perusal. I can tolerate typos (occasionally), but even in my comments, I try to be grammatically correct. I have grammar correction on my computer, so every time it underscores something I check it out. My Deb taught middle school English for years.