Sound and Sense 2, 1

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. guise (noun): a form or style of dress; external appearance; pretext

2. guys (noun): plural of guy—a person; a rope, chain, rod, or wire attached to something as a brace or guide—also called a guyline; when capitalized: a grotesque effigy of Guy Fawkes

The guys were gathered in the gloom—

They’d heard the call (impending doom).

The women watched—such moody skies!

And some of them were in the guise

Of people from the Renaissance.

I spoke to them—got no response.

Then someone lit the bonfire there—

And flames were leaping everywhere.

The Guy was very soon consumed—

The ritual, so I assumed.

I’d never seen a Guy Fawkes crowd—

But this was fun (must be allowed).

I’ll come back next November 5—

To see the Guy again alive.

Then once again I’ll watch him burn.

(And soon enough I’ll have my turn.)