Words from a Teacher's Past, 2

“Words, words, words.”

—    Hamlet (2.2)

List #1: (a) divert, (b) torrent

“Divert the torrent! Are you mad?

The worst idea you have had!”

He simply looked at me and grinned—

“You have to do it! Then we’ll mend

The dam.” And so I waded out—

And soon found out what it’s about.

The water carried me away—

And swiftly so. (Floods do not play.)

And now I’m on some island where

I hide from some huge grizzly bear

Who’s bent—and this is just a hunch—

On having me one day for lunch!