Words, Words Twaddle, 44

(We all dislike/hate certain words and locutions; here are some of mine.)

Daze End

“At the end of the day”—such a hideous phrase,

It’s the kind of locution that summons a daze.

I’ll invite you to join me—a trip to the woods,

Where the quicksand will surely deliver the goods.

As you slowly descend in this horrible way,

I will say that I’m loving the end of your day. 

Words, Words, Twaddle, 43

(We all dislike/hate certain words and locutions; here are some of mine.)

Cookout

The guy who puts “high-stakes” in front

Of every noun that he employs

Should very soon absorb the brunt

Of one of my especial joys.

Initially, I'll drug the guy,

Then take him to a barbecue,

Where he will be high steak—for I

Will broil the dude, yes, through and through. 

Words, Words, Twaddle, 42

(We all dislike/hate certain words and locutions; here are some of mine.)

On a Jag

“A mind-share opportunity!”

The boss announced to one and all.

The jaguar that I had with me

Then leaped toward his face. A pall

Fell on the conference room. The gore

Was everywhere—the room ran red. 

“Let's not forget what words are for”—

My jag just purred at what I said.

And now I am myself the boss;

My jag enforces all I say.

We never post a yearly loss—

Except the loss of all cliché. 

Words, Words, Twaddle, 41

(We all dislike/hate certain words and locutions; here are some of mine.)

Pusher

Lou had no wish to be a dope,

But hearing “push the envelope”

Come from the mouth of his new boss,

He grabbed a stick (he'd played lacrosse)

And whacked his boss across the head,

Who promptly fell—was quickly dead.

Lou burned remains in his back yard

(He didn't find it very hard),

Then thinking well (and filled with hope),

The ashes—in an envelope—

Lou pushed (a window, speeding train),

And felt that he was free again. 

Words, Words, Twaddle, 40

(We all dislike/hate certain words and locutions; here are some of mine.)

Loopy

“Let’s close the loop,” I heard you urge

And had a sudden urge to purge.

But saved myself (as if you care).

I built a scaffold in the square.

And thousands gathered—there you were,

Alarmed by what would soon occur.

I told the hangman with a whoop:

“Well, here’s the guy—now close the loop!”

**

Good news: Only 10 more of these!

Words, Words, Twaddle, 39

(We all dislike/hate certain words and locutions; here are some of mine.)

Line Up

He tried to make it all “align,”

Which on the surface seems just fine.

And so I put him on the rack

And turned the crank and heard a crack.

“Oh, ouch!” he cried. “What is your plan?”

“Adjusting your alignment, man.”

Words, Words, Twaddle, 38

(We all dislike/hate certain words and locutions; here are some of mine.)

In and Out

The “outcomes” came.

They freaked him out

I wondered, “What’s this all about?”

This teacher told me,

Short and plain:

“I wish I really could explain

How serious

The outcomes are.”

I didn’t let him go too far.

“I’m more concerned,”

I said to him,

“What we are teaching Jill and Jim.

For what comes out

We may not know—

Effects, you see, aren’t fast but slow.

And what goes in

Must mix with hearts

And minds and memories—other parts.

So what comes out

At first? Too soon—

An incomplete and hurried tune.

Some meals are best

When cooked on Low:

We need to trust the sure, the slow.”