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Tchotchkes
A news reporter used the word,
And ended it with “keys,”
But I have always said it
With a schwa sound, if you please.
Derived from Yiddish, tchotchkes are
Small knickknacks you can buy,
Like trinkets bought as souvenirs.
(You’ll later wonder why.)
Some homes are filled, on shelves and sills
With tchotchkes overflowing.
The word’s pronunciation, though,
Not everyone is knowing.
Transliterations rarely do
Agree on sound or spelling,
So if it’s “chotchkas” or “chotchkeys”
Is your choice for the telling.
Copyright ©
Ilene Bauer
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