One of things I love about Matador is how our readers really interact with the articles and use them as a springboard for further discussion of topics, blog posts or even creative pieces. Last week, after we published an article on 20 Obsolete English Words that Should Make a Comeback, a reader emailed me and told me that a friend offered the challenge to use all 20 of the words in a poem. Here is the answer to that challenge:
Matador Reader Challenged to Use 20 Obsolete English Words in a Single Poem
by
Heather Carreiro
Nov 15, 2010
An obsolete ode to my love
might prove to sound quite ludibrious.
The jargogled thoughts swirl frecklessly.
I find that I am constantly in widdendream
as I deliciate by twitter-light,
corrading memories so illecebrous.
Historically speaking, much brabbling and quagswagging has been done
comparing and contrasting whose love of whom is most worthy of note.
Why those sanguinolent fellows, to prove
the unmittigated pulchritude of the object of their affection,
boasted of one beauty launching a boat!
It is the hoddypeak who yemelessly
and with malagrugrous countenance
underestimates or dares to kench at love’s sweet power.
For many a brannigan have men spent,
perissology to fill ten libraries, while lesser men sit and cower.
The hour is late and while I could happily continue in my scriptitation,
to say that bibesy doesn’t beckon would be lying.
Therefore, draw open the Grand Drape and let the performer, quite jollux, sing.
By Shawn-Dana S. Dalton
***
To find out what all these words mean, check out the original article.
Can anyone use Matador’s 20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World in a poem?
Email me at heather@matadornetwork.com if you accomplish the feat!