Junior Words, 96

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #20: (a) exacerbate, (b) execrable

Oh, you know—don’t you know?—that it’s execrable

To revert to your simian state?

It’s a way you alarm all your family and friends—

And a way to exacerbate*

All the problems you have in your world and your life—

Oh, the heartache! The headache and such!

So it’s better by far, if you listen to me,

Not to act like a monkey too much!

*the rhythm of this line ain’t right, I know