Sound and Sense, 2-55

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. massed (adj.)—past participle of verb mass: to form or collect into a mass (a large quantity; a large body of persons); to assemble in a mass

2. mast (noun): a long pole or spar rising from the keel or deck of a ship and supporting the yards, booms, and rigging; (verb): to furnish with a mast

The time had come—to mast the ship—

And do it quickly, with no slip.

The men were massed there on the deck

While Long John Silver sought to check

The damage that the storm had done.

(Yes, Treasure Island—he’s the one!)

And for a mast they used a tree

That they had cut down recently

When they had been back on the shore

To look for treasure, booze, and more.

And quickly men went to their tasks

(While others hid and drank from casks),

And soon the ship was sound again—

The Jolly Roger in the wind!

His parrot landed on his arm—

The place where it was safe from harm.

Then Silver got on Amazon—

A new leg for the one now gone.

His membership, of course, was Prime.

The shipping free! It came on time!