Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Sound and Sense, 59



We’re moving next to the homophone: a word pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning, whether spelled the same way or not, as heir and air. So … contronyms are words that have contradictory meanings (sanctiion = approve and disapprove; homophones sound alike but to not mean the same—and often are not spelled the same, either.

1. ducked (verb—past tense): lowered the head or body suddenly to avoid being seen or hit
2. duct (noun): a pipe or tube for air, water, electric power lines, etc., to pass through

He wished that he had ducked that punch
That he’d received that day at lunch.

But, focused on his Snickers bar,
He felt a very sudden jar

And found himself upon the floor
Where bluebirds twittered (there were four).

But later he paid Puncher back—
It was a sort of sneak attack.

His morals and beliefs he chucked
And shoved that Puncher in a duct.

And Puncher has been there for years—
No use his cries, pathetic tears.

But people wondered on and on:
Where has that sneaky Puncher gone? 

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