Junior Words, 28

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #6: (e) misanthropy, (f) satiate

Long noted for misanthropy,

Old Ebenezer, seems to me,

Could never satiate his taste

For grumpiness—oh, what a waste!

Until those visits from those ghosts,

Who had no things like Facebook posts.

A Christmas Carol—long ago—

Remains a classic, as you know.

And Scrooge and that boy Tiny Tim?

Some literary fame won’t dim.

Junior Words, 27

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #6: (c) protean, (d) contiguous

He changed his point of view so much

We called him protean.

My seat was near—contiguous—

Which often was so fun.

I’d hear him growl about a this,

Then change in to a that.

He was in every sort of way

A verbal acrobat!

Junior Words, 26

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #6: (a) epoch, (b) deleterious

It was the oddest epoch then—

The oddest, well, since who knows when?

So much was deleterious

To me and, well, to all of us.

But some just cried, “Oh, this is great!”

Ignored opposing thought, debate.

Junior Words, 25

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #5: (i) propinquity, (j) verdure

It’s all due to propinquity—

And to the verdure of our love.

You lived next door, so I could see

The wonders that I’m speaking of.

We fell in love—it happened fast.

And it has lasted decades now.

So I am sure that we will last.

It’s love no force dare disallow!

Junior Words, 24

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #5: (g) scurrilous, (h) purport

Your reputation’s scurrilous—

You cannot make a pitch to us.

The purport of the words you say

Offend us in most every way.

So take your pitch some other place

Before we rearrange your face!

Junior Words, 23

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #5: (e) somniferous, (f) sexton

The sexton fell asleep because

The sermon was somniferous.

He snapped awake—he’d heard a buzz

From lots of other people (us).

“Be quiet!” snapped the sexton—but

We knew he’s really not a creep.

We figured out (yes, in our gut)

He wanted much more time to sleep!

Junior Words, 22

A High School Teacher’s Final List

List #5: (c) vilify, (d) palliative

Now, I want you to know that I think that your voice

Is not often so palliative.

See, so much of the time it’s unpleasant, my friend—

And I know that I’m doomed to forgive.

For, see, you are my friend, and I shouldn’t disown

A good person who’s so nice to me—

But, alas, your harsh voice is so challenging, Yo—

That I must vilify you, you see?