Writer's Pantrv #89, and I've indulged in a bit of word play. Heaven knows the English language provides enough fodder for the mill when it comes to word play. Submitted to Poets & Storytellers United, September 26, 2021.
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WHAT'S UP?
The English language has lots of idiosyncrasies,
not the least of which is the little word up.
Attempting to explain it to someone learning
English is a lesson in frustration. Give up,
for example, is to concede, hold up is to rob;
and a tossup is equally divided. While makeup
means cosmetics applied to one’s face, to make up
is to mend a fractured relationship. Put up
implies to restore to proper place; but undesired
people are someone you won’t put up with.
To begin is to start up, but an impertinent
person is an upstart. A person over-impressed
with themselves is said to be stuck up (or uppity), but to
rob at gunpoint is a stickup. There are numerous
more uses, but it’s best to simply avoid the word
up when helping someone learn English, It just
leaves them...you guessed it...all mixed up. It’s no
surprise a common greeting is WHAT’S UP?
Bravo luv your wit
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💖love
I read this poem. Guess which way my thumbs are pointing.
ReplyDeleteVery whimsical and fun piece ❤️
ReplyDeleteYes, up is a weird word. "Sit down, children, and sit up!"
ReplyDelete...not to be confused with a eet-up, of course!
DeleteI love your sense of humor!
ReplyDeleteThis is a delight to read, Bev. And so very true.
ReplyDeleteI'm "down" with this, Beverly ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll leave "down" to y ou, Joel. It has just as many possibilities. The gauntlet is thrown!
DeleteHmmm... I guess I stepped in that one. I'll have to work on it.
DeleteThis made chuckle.:D Just brilliant!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, loved it.
ReplyDeleteSo, dear Bev ... I will not utter the obvious SHUT THE H**L UP. A funny poem, loved it.
ReplyDeletewell if you can't keep up it's time to shape up!
Deletethis is an absolute delight to read. :)
ReplyDelete* two thumbs up! *
So funny... love this.
ReplyDeletethis was so clever bev, i really enjoyed this, and you nailed it. back when i managed warehouses i ran into this problem all the time. i had so many employees who were not native english speakers, and while all of them were hard working and intelligent, things like what you demonstrate here could really twist them up. i had to be careful how i worded things, it could get a little weird if i didn't. well done bev, loved this.
ReplyDeleteYou've explored the nuances of "up" well!
ReplyDelete