Sound and Sense, 2-43

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. literal (adj.): involving the ordinary or usual meaning of a word; completely true and accurate—not exaggerated

2. littoral (adj.): of, relating to, or having a coast

I shouldn’t get too literal—

But accidents so littoral

Deserve a very true account.

And so I’ll tell about the Count,

Upon his trusty, stallion mount,

Went to the seaside one bright day.

And there a wave swept him away

While children who had come to play

Cooperated—saved the horse,

Which neighed in gratitude (of course)—

And showed just slivers of remorse

About the Count. Who’d been an ass,

A guy with very little class,

Whose speech and acts were very crass—

So that day no one cried, “Alas!”