Junior Words, 66

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #14: (a) intrepid, (b) abrogate

The explorer was intrepid, so

He knew exactly where to go:

He journeyed to the Yeti’s land—

But things did not proceed as planned.

The Yeti grabbed him by the throat,

And here—permit me—I will quote:

“I hereby abrogate your right

To search for me, both day and night.”

And while the guy was full of dread,

The Yeti ate his foolish head.

Junior Words, 65

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #13: (i) spurious, (j) tacit

So spurious, the whole thing sounds—

Some frightening message fills the air:

“This property is out of bounds—

Take heed—there is a grizzly bear!”

The tacit message? Much more clear:

“I don’t want people on my lawn—

And so I’ll try a little fear,

And soon those fools will be long gone.”

(Ironic news: A grizzly bear wandered in from Wyoming and ate the owner, who was watering his own lawn!)

Junior Words, 64

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #13: (g) timorous, (h) bathos

If you are feeling timorous

About approaching her today,

Just listen and I’ll tell the way:

Just find a way you can discuss

The things that humans care about—

Like life and love and hopes and dreams

(Your sentences will flow like streams)—

And she will dig you—ain’t no doubt.

But please avoid the bathos, for

It is a way to douse the flame

That you’ve ignited. (Win the game!)

Yes, stick to things that mean much more.

Junior Words, 63

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #13: (e) servile, (f) chicanery

I thought that being servile might

Help ease my way to wealth and fame,

And so (though I am not too bright)

I sought a mentor with a “name.”

But she saw through me—right away—

And ended my deceptions. See,

She recognized in just one day

My clumsy, sad chicanery.

Junior Words, 62

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #13: (c) perfidious, (d) sybarite

You have become perfidious—

In day and also night.

And so I fear I must conclude:

You are a sybarite.

You focus sharply on the flesh—

And, yes, of course, on sex.

Your heart is disappearing—like

Tyrannosaurus rex!

Repair yourself! It’s not too late!

And live a purer way.

For you might find you have a soul—

And have no price to pay.

Junior Words, 61

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #13: (a) cloacal, (b) querulous

What is that vile, cloacal smell?

Has someone found the gates to Hell?

You think that I sound querulous?

You think I’m stirring up a fuss?

Well, I smell something hellish, so

I think I’ll pack my bag and go.

(The other direction.)

Junior Words, 60

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #12: (i) libertine, (j) vacuous

He lived his life a libertine—

Enjoyed the … liberty—

Though he would never live to have

A wife, a family.

Oh, he was vacuous, as well—

He saw no use for brain.

The body is what he enjoyed—

I don’t need to explain!