Thursday, September 29, 2016

Sound and Sense, 2-29


Time for more instances of the homophone: a word pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning, whether spelled the same way or not, as heir and air.

1. knows (verb): 3rd person singular of know—to perceive, to have understanding of, to recognize or be acquainted with
2. noes (noun): plural of no—a negative answer; people who are voting no
3. nose (noun):the part of the head through which a person or animal smells and breathes;  (verb): to push or move something with the nose; to search for or find something by smelling

We always hear the many noes
That echo through the night.
Those noes are numerous, I fear,
And rarely get it right.

I guess that everybody knows
How negatives can win:
Just drown the positives in sound—
Create a daunting din.

But we still do retain the nose
And we can use it well
To learn the human, better way,
Relying on the smell.

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