Looks Can Fool You, 14

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

14: contest

I really felt I must contest

The will that Rich Guy left behind.

I wanted only what was best—

I am, you know, the sharing kind.

The judge declared “No contest,” though—

In fact, she laughed aloud in court.

“You aren’t related—as you know—

So this is what I must report:

You’ll go to jail for years and years—

You’ll do hard labor till you die—

You’ll go to sleep just soaked in tears—

And all because of your foul lie!”

But here’s what saved me from that fate:

“Yo, I should share! I claim it still!

For this you really can’t debate—

It’s only fair … my name is Will!”

The judge looked stunned; she blushed a bit.

“You have a point that’s true and clear.

And so, I guess, I must acquit—

So—quickly!—beat it out of here!”

Looks Can Fool You, 13

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

13: content

Oh, she could never be content

With new books that she read.

She hated plots—their twists and turns

Just scrambled up her head.

And content was an issue, too—

Some subjects she abhorred.

Though (truth be told) there were some books

Whose stories she adored.

She loved those vampire books (the ones

With Bella and E. C.).

And Harry Potter turned her on—

But only decently.

And so, content, she read for years—

Until one day near dawn

A loving vampire bit her neck,

And then her life was on!

Looks Can Fool You, 12

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

12: console

Her console is outdated now—

Yes, tape decks are a bit passé.

We have to say: “Your sacred cow

Must now, we fear, just pass away.”

She doesn’t take the news too well—

In fact, she weeps in mighty streams.

No way we can console her—Hell,

The more we talk, the more she screams!

Looks Can Fool You, 11

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

11: conflict

Yo, you can have a conflict when

The things you say conflict,

So when you testify in court,

Don’t ever contradict

Yourself.

Looks Can Fool You, 10

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

10: conduct

Oh, he was sure he could conduct.

He looked the part—wild flowing hair.

Baton. Tuxedo. But he sucked.

He had no rhythm—had no flair.

And so he turned to crime instead.

His conduct, reprehensible.

And soon enough, the dude was dead:

The Mob called him "dispensable."

Looks Can Fool You, 9

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

9: combine

Old Orf, I fear, did not combine

The best of human skills.

He didn’t know a useful thing

Can be a thing that kills.

And so he stood out in the field—

Admiring harvest time.

And then a combine mowed him down—

A painful paradigm.

Looks Can Fool You, 8

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

8: close

“Please close the door,” the mother said—

She was a talking sheep.

We’re in a fairy tale, you see—

You’ll have to make the leap.

A wolf raced up—right near the door—

Which slammed—and just in time!

“Well, that was close!” the father cried.

“You close—or there’s no rhyme!”

Looks Can Fool You, 7

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

7: buffet

And there she is—at the buffet—

Just choosing some rich, sweet dessert—

I sort of saunter—move her way—

But I am fragile, bruised and hurt—

And so I’m not like certain dopes

Who barge right in—who make a move.

No, I have very humble hopes—

If you could see, you would approve.

But just as I am feeling free—

Some alpha male just sails right by—

I feel his force just buffet me—

She smiles; he smiles; they smile; I cry.

Looks Can Fool You, 6

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

6. bowed

The King’s insisted—all have bowed—

And that day there was quite a crowd.

I looked outside—along the road—

And saw a tree, so bent and bowed.

It’s weird, I thought, that every bough

Has chosen, for the King, to bow.

The King saw me; his face flared red:

“He looked away! Off with his head!”

So off I go, just whistling Bach,

To something called a “chopping block.”

Looks Can Fool You, 5

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

5: bow

That noted archer Robin Hood

Enjoyed his battles for the good.

His weapons came from Sherwood wood.

He used a branch to make his bow—

And also arrows (as you know).

The string? Not sure—I’m kinda slow.

Before King John he would not bow—

We read of his defiance now

And wish he would appear somehow

To rescue us from current harm—

To use his storied outlaw charm

To bring us peace—end all alarm.

Looks Can Fool You, 4

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

4: bass

His voice—a bass—so deep and rich.

A rival—tenor. Tell me: Which

Of these will she select to be

Her mate? I guess we’ll wait and see.

But—what a shock! It was her wish

To mate, instead, with some old fish.

Oh, yes, this comely, brilliant lass

Has wed not with a man—but bass.

There’s something fishy, I suspect.

Perhaps her sanity needs checked?

The bass claims that his name is Gill.

He says that he’s a Finn? So chill!

Looks Can Fool You, 3

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

3: axes

Paul Bunyan had some axes—but

He knew no math—he couldn’t count.

He wailed "Oh, I'm stuck in a rut!"

When he could not find some amount.

The axes of his discontent

Combined to make him feel a fool.

And so he roared (he had to vent!)

And wished he’d not goofed off in school.

Looks Can Fool You, 2

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

2: august/August

As August nears, we’ve cause to pause

To think of summer’s breath—

It’s an august occasion when

The summer feels its death.

Looks Can Fool You, 1

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

1: attribute

To whom can we attribute this?

How can a single word

Be said not one but two “right” ways?

That attribute’s absurd!

Looks Can Fool You: Introduction

het·ero·nym

Noun: one of two or more homographs [words

that are spelled the same]

that differ in pronunciation and meaning

(such as a bass voice and bass, a fish)

First Known Use: circa 1889

Introduction
(careful: unusual rhythm for me—it’s anapestic: duh-duh-DUH)

In the wild world of words—for each her and each him—

There’s the challenge proposed by the heteronym.

These are words which, we see, look exactly the same—

Like some twins who somehow also share the same name.

Yes, these heteronyms—they are words spelled alike—

But pronounced different ways. (Let’s now all go on strike!)

And so off we now go on a journey (of sorts)

Through these heteronyms—most exciting of sports!

Yes, each heteronym gets a “poem”—its day.

And we’ll try to stay sane as we move on our way.

It’s a dangerous trip, and I’ll make this so plain:

It’s a journey that really might drive you insane!

101 Poems: Afterword

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

Finis

“Our revels now have ended”—yes, and, well,

If “revels” seems a little strong, just tell

Me and I’ll change it to a word that might

Appeal to you a little more, all right?

Whatever word I use—or here employ—

Cannot convey the mixture of my joy

At having finished and, of course, regret

That now I need a series new—you bet!

So soon—tomorrow morning!—I will start

Another series, and—be still, my heart—

I’ll once again devote some time each day

To rhyming what it is I have to say!

101 Poems, Number 1

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

1: “Our revels now are ended,” speech from The Tempest, 4.1, 1612, by William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

It’s Prospero who says these words—

The Tempest—what a play!

Among my favorites by the Bard—

I’d watch it every day.

It is a speech I memorized—

And back when I retired,*

I’d planned to say it to each class

As classroom time expired.

But (funny thing) when I began,

I stopped. It wasn’t fears.

No, I just could not say the words

Because of all the tears.

I didn’t even try that day

In classes later on:
I knew just what would happen then—

I’d try—and I’d be gone.

But I have tried to keep these words—

Rehearse them every week.

I might just, well, retire again—

And need to weep a creek!

*From Western Reserve Academy, June 2011

Link to lines.  I know from “Our revels now are ended” to “is rounded with a sleep.”

101 Poems, Number 2

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

2: “Mending Wall,” in North of Boston (1914), by Robert Frost (1874–1963)

My mother loved this poem, so

I learned it when she still was here.*

And driving through the woods, you know,

I’d say it to her when we would near

A wall of rocks that we could see

Back in the woods, close to the road.

She always loved Frost’s poetry,

And so I looked at her; I slowed;

And started in: “Something there is

That doesn’t love a wall.” I’m sure

She was surprised, at first. (No whiz

Was I, a lad. I found the cure!)

But now I cannot say these words

And fail to think of Mother’s eyes—

They darted up like startled birds

When I began—her pure surprise.

*She died on March 10, 2018, at age 98.

Link to poem. 

101 Poems, Number 3

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

3: “A Psalm of Life,” 1838, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82)

Another long one by the guy—

The fellow who was once the rage—

The poet, scholar—even sage—

Who ruled his world. And here is why:

He told some stories in his verse—

He liked a pounding rhythm, too—

He liked to rhyme (could do it, too!)—

And so he filled his swelling purse.

And this one has some famous lines—

Like “footsteps on the sands of time”—

(And time he matches with sublime)—

He stays within the strict confines

Of strict conventional poetry—

And so in later years he fell

From prominence (a tale to tell)—

But much he wrote appeals to me.

Link to poem.  

101 Poems, Number 4

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

4: “Promissory Note,” in Strong Is Your Hold (2006), by Galway Kinnell (1927–2014)

“If I die before you”—what a way

To start a poem! There’s no play

In such a line. So dark the day

That such a thought comes in your head—

The thought that you will first be dead—

Before your lover. (Feel the dread.)

But here’s a thought that’s even worse--

Just think another way—rehearse

Your lover’s death. And choose your hearse.

Link to poem. 

101 Poems, Number 5

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

5: “Sonnet XIII” (“Read history”), from Mine the Harvest (1949), by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950)*

“But what a shining animal

Is man,” Millay here writes

In this, a famous sonnet that

Achieves a sonnet’s heights.

So many other species can’t

Begin to know of death,

Of future suffering and pain—

Can’t dread a final breath.

But we all know what lies ahead—

And yet, somehow, we still

Enjoy our lives—repress the fear—

Enjoy each mortal thrill.

*final lines used as an epigraph for Judith Guest’s Ordinary People, 1976; film in 1980, dir. Robert Redford

Link to poem (scroll down to #13).  

101 Poems, Number 6

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

6: “O Captain! My Captain!” 1865, by Walt Whitman (1819–92)

The death of Lincoln (curse that Booth!)—

A murder hitting Whitman hard—

And so he sat and wrote the truth,

This gifted, unconventional bard.

Here, Lincoln’s captain of our ship—

The speaker finds him on the deck—

He will not make another trip—

The speaker is in grief, a wreck.

He grieves for what we all have lost—

And also for what might have been.

He calculates the grievous cost—

And writes it with his magic pen.

Link to poem.

101 Poems, Number 7

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

7: “Boy at the Window,” in New Yorker, January 5, 1952, by Richard Wilbur (1921–2017)

It seems I’m fond of Wilbur, yes?

(It wasn’t hard for you to guess?)

And this one is about a child—

A winter’s day—the weather’s wild.

He sees a snowman in the yard—

Is worried for it—worries hard.

And Wilbur moves inside the heart—

The snowman’s heart—so clever, smart.

And then we see the snowman cry—
In empathy. (And so did I.)

Link to poem.  

101 Poems, Number 8

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

8: “Crossing the Bar,” 1889, by Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809–92)

I heard this first in ’63—

My great-grandfather died that year.*

And for his service, finally,

The preacher read this. To my ear—

So long ago—I didn’t care

For what I heard. Seemed trite, I guess.

But as my years have come to wear

On me, I’ve come to reassess

So many things. I’ve memorized

This poem. Several times a week

I mumble it—it’s vaporized

My youth’s disdain with words unique.

*Warren A. Lanterman (1866–1963)

Link to poem. 

101 Poems, Number 9

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

9: “Sigh No More,” song from Much Ado About Nothing (2.3), 1598, by William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

A song encapsulating all

The conflicts in this Shakespeare play—

How men are fickle (to this day?)—

And make of love a wailing wall.

This play has lightness at its end—

But darkness hovers everywhere:

The lack of trust, the lack of care.

How stubborn men dislike to bend.

But Shakespeare knew that comedy

Is just a lighter form of dark—

A lovely landscape, sometimes stark.

But watch the film*—and you will see!

*Kenneth Branagh, et al., 1993; Branagh places the song at the very beginning of the film—good idea, in my view!

Link to song.