Ludic

English is not a language 
one can ever get ahead of--
there are just too many words! 
Like 'ludic; for example: meaning
playful, in the sense of spontaneous, 
without real purpose....Soooooo,  
how come I never came across 
Little Ludic in over sixty years 
of reading hundreds of books
in my beloved mother tongue, 
the language I love, 
the language I married.

Even spellcheck never saw it, 
or else why underline little Ludic 
in red, like a criminal of some sort 
who needs a good sorting out, 
a spell in word prison perhaps? 

If one but takes the time to look, 
one can find sweet Ludic laying low, 
hiding quietly in the BIG FAT ONE,
the Oxford Dictionary! 
Lord and Regent of all word books. 

Ludic  lives there with his cousins:
Ludibrious and that stuffed shirt, 
Ludibry, and the handsome,
macho Ludrico ( who is no doubt 
from the Italian side of the family) 
and of course, the far more famous 
Ludicrous, a celebrity who seems to 
want all the spotlight for himself. 

Words can be so very selfish too....
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Chiri Avatar
January 28, 2020 at 6:42 PM
Ludic hummm I never knew it existed! Now I do my friend sand a word that sounds quite fun to use!;) hey congrats on your win!;)
Carber Avatar
January 29, 2020 at 9:12 AM
Thanks Brenda
Haight Avatar
March 15, 2019 at 11:08 AM
Well-written, and very whimsically clever, LJ! Love how you singled out this one word to honor with your witty tribute! Congratulations on your win. Sandra
Carber Avatar
March 16, 2019 at 7:52 AM
Thanks Sandra, I'm glad you liked it!
Toney Avatar
March 13, 2019 at 2:01 PM
L J, Your poem is very clever and a Fav for me :) I'm 64 years old and I've never come across the word "ludic" either. But I have experienced being spontaneously playful without real purpose! Your poem is very clever and a Fav for me :) Congratulations on your win on Mile 23 of my 2019 Poetry Marathon Contest! Only 4 contests to go before the final! ~Mark
Carber Avatar
March 14, 2019 at 10:03 AM
Thank you Mark-- I thought I had a pretty extensive vocab but English is resplendent in the vastness of its myriad word choice, with 3 times as many words as Hebrew even though that is a language thousands of years older!
Gauthier Avatar
March 13, 2019 at 1:11 PM
Back with more congrats, LJ.
Carber Avatar
March 14, 2019 at 10:04 AM
Thanks again Line-- you are a most 'thoughtful' poet in every sense of the word!
Gauthier Avatar
March 6, 2019 at 5:20 PM
Congrats, LJ, on your delightfully ludic gem.
Carber Avatar
March 7, 2019 at 9:25 AM
Thank you, Line!
Allison Avatar
March 6, 2019 at 5:02 PM
so lovely to see this on the winner's list LJ, many congrats:-) hugs Jan xx
Carber Avatar
March 7, 2019 at 9:25 AM
Thanks Jan!
Barry-Nishanian Avatar
March 16, 2018 at 11:19 PM
Very nicely done in most unusual way...at least to me..Enjoyed...congrats!
Carber Avatar
March 17, 2018 at 2:03 PM
Thanks Barbara-- it is one of my rare efforts at comedy-- which is, as the saying goes, really much harder to write than tragedy.
Wigley Avatar
March 1, 2018 at 10:28 PM
Well, I learn something new every day, L.J. Congrats! Regards, Viv
Carber Avatar
March 2, 2018 at 1:08 PM
Thanks Viv-- I too try to learn something new every . else I feel like I wasted time (and at 70, time starts getting measured by the spoonful!)
Brewer Avatar
March 1, 2018 at 7:31 AM
Your love and fascination with our language is well expressed with eloquence and humour. I share the affection.
Carber Avatar
March 1, 2018 at 1:49 PM
Thank you, Geoffrey-- and yes, our mother tongue is quite amazing in its breadth.
Roper Avatar
February 28, 2018 at 5:48 PM
Nicely done, L.J., congratulations on your win.
Carber Avatar
February 28, 2018 at 9:35 PM
Thanks Eve, much appreciated!
Gauthier Avatar
February 28, 2018 at 4:17 PM
Adorable, L.J. Congrats on your well deserved win.
Carber Avatar
February 28, 2018 at 9:36 PM
Thanks, Line---I surprised myself with this one.
Marcum Wong Avatar
February 28, 2018 at 4:11 PM
L.J. this poem is classic! I loved your humor and wit in this little gem! Congratulations on your top win! Bravo! : )
Carber Avatar
February 28, 2018 at 9:36 PM
Thank you, Connie, I really appreciate it.
Lamoureux Avatar
December 7, 2016 at 9:03 AM
This is both educational and fun. I like how you play with your words. Congrats on your win.
Carber Avatar
December 8, 2016 at 9:56 AM
Thank you, Richard-- though in truth, I think words play with me: they certainly are contrary, coming as poems when they will and never when I beckon!
Allison Avatar
March 23, 2016 at 6:12 PM
Dropping back with my congrats again Len :-) hugs jan xx
Carber Avatar
December 8, 2016 at 9:57 AM
A belated note of thanks!
Nance Avatar
March 23, 2016 at 2:08 PM
very interesting thanks for entering
Carber Avatar
December 8, 2016 at 9:58 AM
Thank you, Casarah, and please forgive the delay.
Allison Avatar
January 29, 2015 at 2:12 PM
Very clever humour - many congrats on your win:-) Hugs jan xx
Carber Avatar
December 8, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Sorry Jan not to express my thanks before-- was recovering from a double hip job.
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