From Head to Toe, 17

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (p): ear 2: incus

Another bone inside the ear—

The incus helps to make it clear

Those sounds you hear make certain sense

And don’t create too much suspense

About a speaker—what he said—

So you will never be misled!

From Head to Toe, 16

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (o): ear 1: malleus

A small bone in the middle ear—

The malleus, its name.

Vibrations are its task—to pass

Them on—yes, that’s the game!

The ear drum is adjacent, and

It throbs with telling waves,

And in our brain those waves are sounds—

From our ears’ tiny caves.

malleus in green

From Head to Toe, 15

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (n): facial bone 7: mandible

Your lower jawbone, which you drop

When wishing to chew food or talk—

The mandible, which does not stop

At pizza joints—no, does not balk

When you are in the eating mood—

Or talking’s what you wish to do.

Oh, it will crunch huge piles of food—

And gab and gab the whole night through.

This bone’s been with us for a while—

Since we were making jungle calls.

We had no phones—we roared in style

When we saw those Neandertals.

From Head to Toe, 14

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (m): facial bones 6: vomer

The vomer forms part of the nose—

It keeps it so secure

That you can breathe with confidence

Our air so sweet, so pure.

I must confess: I’d never heard

Of this supportive bone.

I’m guessing, though (if I may say),

That I am not alone?

From Head to Toe, 13

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (l): facial bones 5: inferior nasal concha

Inferior nasal concha—wow!

Another bone that knows

Its function is to help you smell—

For that, you need a nose.

It seems it lies along the side

Of nasal cavities—

And helps you breathe and smell, as well

Oh, it sure aims to please!

From Head to Toe, 12

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (k): facial bones 4: palatine bone

An L-shaped bone that forms a part

Of nasal cavity—

And also palate (hard), of course.

As cool as it can be.

This bone—it’s called the palatine—

Is useful when you eat—

And when you wish, as well, to breathe—

Oh, really quite a feat!

From Head to Toe, 11

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (j): facial bones 3: zygomatic bones

These bones compose the upper cheeks—

These zygomatic bones.

If you get punched, well, bruises form—

And then commence your moans.

It’s better (as I’ve long believed

For far more than a week)

To dance along with one you love—

Yes, dancing cheek-to-cheek.

From Head to Toe, 10

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (i): facial bones 2: lacrimal bone

This bone helps to support the eye—

And you’ve got two—and so have I.

Yes, lacrimal is this bone’s name—

And you might know whence that name came:

It was the Latin word for tears—

I studied Latin year and years

Ago. And some of it has stuck—

But I attribute that to luck.

Be grateful for this tiny bone—

It’s there to help support your moan!

From Head to Toe, 9

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (h): facial bones 2: maxillae

The maxillae—your upper jaw—

Is necessary (as you know).

Just think of all those films you saw—

Those vampires with those teeth that grow

When they are thirsty for some blood—

And find a neck with pulsing vein.

But with no maxillae? No flood

To feed—no pulsing pain.

From Head to Toe, 8

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (g): facial bones. 1: nasal bones

Your nasal bones—a human knows—

Support, of course, your human nose.

Without them? Just a flap of skin—

No way to intake oxygen—

Except the human mouth, of course—

But then you’d sound just like a horse.

So … nasal bones? Essential, yes?

(There really is no need to guess.)

From Head to Toe, 7

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (f): cranial bone 4: ethmoid bone

The ethmoid bone—behind the nose—

Protects the brain that lies behind.

The brain is fragile (each one knows)—

And so we need a bony kind

Of wall to keep us just a bit more safe

From hits and bumps and accidents

And wingèd things that just might strafe

Our fragile face and skull’s contents.

From Head to Toe, 6

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (e): cranial bones  3: sphenoid bone

The sphenoid bone lies toward the front,

Where, every day, it must confront

All matter that approaches you—

But it does what such bones must do:

Protect what is behind the bone.

So ain’t that great? You’re not alone!

From Head to Toe, 5

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (d): cranial bones 2: temporal bone

You’ll find these bones along each side

Of your so well-protected skull.

The temporal bones, of course, reside

Along each temple—form a hull

Protecting cargo (that’s your brain!)

Throughout your voyage through your days.

Your brain’s the captain—quite a reign!—

Of your life’s ship—so give it praise!

From Head to Toe, 4

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (c): cranial bone 1: frontal bone

Now, this one’s just above your eyes—

Although, of course, you can not see.

This bone’s invisibility—

Essential, for it underlies

Protection for your precious brain—

The frontal lobes are right behind—

And they are of that crucial kind

Allowing you to learn—to gain

The kind of knowledge that you want—

That kind of makes you who you are

(A dying or a shooting star)—

And so be not too nonchalant

About this bone!

From Head to Toe, 3

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Skull (b): parietal bones

Protecting both sides of your brain

Are bones—parietal.

And they compose a major part

Of every human skull.

They’re like those walls that help protect

A fort from long ago—

They are protection—strong and firm—

And not there just for show.

Be careful with your fragile head—

Don’t bang it on a rock—

Or slam it up against a door:

Your clock won’t go tick-tock!

From Head to Toe, 2

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

HEAD

Skull (a): occipital bone

This bone you’ll find right in the back

Of your amazing head.

It isn’t one you want to break—

A break can make you dead,

For it protects your precious brain—

Which badly needs the aid—

For it is spongy tissue, and

Thus needs a barricade.

From Head to Toe

Head to Toe:

Boning Up on the Bones of the Body

Head to Toe

Another journey we commence—

So close to home (it makes some sense).

We’ll journey right inside our skin—

Through human bones that make us kin.

And we will travel head to toe—

From skull on down (as you well know)—

And here is hoping you won’t feel

That I am something of a heel

When we arrive in pedal zones,

Completing all those human bones!

Enjoy the trip—it won’t be dark.

Tomorrow we will all embark!

SIN-o-NYMS: Conclusion

Lines Based on Synonyms for the Seven Deadly Sins

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: envy, gluttony, greed or avarice, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath

CONCLUSION

Our trip though sins—at last complete—

A journey somewhat long—

But that’s our fault because we’ve done

So many things so wrong.

If we were all a bit more pure—

And not our fallen selves—

Perhaps this journey would be short—

As short as elves on shelves.

But—no!—our journey must be long—

And wind through country grim—

For we sin so continually—

Through every sin-o-nym!

SIN-o-NYMS, 7y

Lines Based on Synonyms for the Seven Deadly Sins

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: envy, gluttony, greed or avarice, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath

Wrath (y): dudgeon

In dudgeon high—in dudgeon low

(He wasn’t sure which way to go)—

He flared at friends and colleagues, too—

And left them wondering what to do.

But on his anger flamed and flared

And no one ever really dared

To tell him, “Dan, you are a jerk!”

Such confrontations didn’t work.

Instead, they simply left the room—

Commiserating, all, on Zoom.

Until the flames at last were out,

And they could learn what ’twas about.

SIN-o-NYMS, 7x

Lines Based on Synonyms for the Seven Deadly Sins

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: envy, gluttony, greed or avarice, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath

Wrath (x): outburst

Her outburst really shocked her crew—

Who did not know what they should do.

Should they attempt to make her stop?

Or simply telephone a cop?

And what had caused this sad display

Distressing all of them that day?

Her pencil had run out of lead—

And just for that she’d wished them dead!?!?

SIN-o-NYMS, 7w

Lines Based on Synonyms for the Seven Deadly Sins

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: envy, gluttony, greed or avarice, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath

Wrath (w): querulousness

Yes, his querulousness was a thing to behold—

And it seemed ever-fresh—and it never seemed old.

He would come into work with his brow furrowed so

That he looked like a man who’d been scratched—so we’d know

That we’d better be careful—stay out of his way—

For if not, we would have a most miserable day.

He would bark at us all—like a dog on a chain—

And he never would bother to try to explain.

And so soon we just treated him like Mr. Hyde—

But all of us—all—were just laughing inside.

Well, he never caught on—he just raged on and on—

Till the men in white coats came around—he was gone!

SIN-o-NYMS, 7v

Lines Based on Synonyms for the Seven Deadly Sins

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: envy, gluttony, greed or avarice, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath

Wrath (v): pugnacity

When he displayed pugnacity,

He hoped that everyone would see

That he was someone they should fear—

Though why he’d do that isn’t clear.

Why would you wish to separate

Yourself and simply vegetate—

And have no friends? And be alone

In some self-isolation zone?

Goliath, though, was who he was—

And would not ever change because

He was Goliath. So, the shock

When he met David’s deadly rock.

SIN-o-NYMS, 7u

Lines Based on Synonyms for the Seven Deadly Sins

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: envy, gluttony, greed or avarice, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath

Wrath (u): pugnaciousness

Pugnaciousness—a lengthy word

That I don’t often use.

It’s kind of funny, such a word,

Describing a short fuse.

Pugnacious folks are primed to fight—

It doesn’t take a lot:

A little provocation, and

They fast turn boiling hot.

Perhaps some punches fly? Some kicks?

Perhaps a filthy curse?

Among the sins there aren’t a lot

That really are much worse.

SIN-o-NYMS, 7t

Lines Based on Synonyms for the Seven Deadly Sins

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: envy, gluttony, greed or avarice, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath

Wrath (t): irascibility

We’ve reached irascibility—

That most disturbing quality

Of people most like you (not me!).

The anger boils right near the top—

And once it starts, it’s hard to stop.

Like lava. Better call a cop

When it becomes too heinous to

Cool off without the men in blue,

Who’re used to it—know what to do.

Yes, folks who are irascible

With anger are completely full

And need a friendly little pull

Straight back to good old sanity—

Oh, not irascibility,

Which ruins much, as all can see.