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): 3^rd 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.