Comment from Pearl Edwards

Excellent

This is a great word, or really two words joined and I really enjoyed this poem especially
when
you give the modern day meanings of truth, honorable, patriotic and right. You're with them, unfortunately. Great read.
cheers,
valda

 Comment Written 22-Oct-2018

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reply by the author on 23-Oct-2018

Thanks so much, Valda. Much appreciated -- Craig

Comment from Gloria ....

Excellent

It's about time someone took Noah to the task. What he's done to words is just altogether intolerable and an assault to common decency. Blimey the man should be pilloried, oh wait that is what you have just done, Craig. Well done mate, and a fine job you've done of it. :)

Gloria

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2018

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reply by the author on 17-Oct-2018

Oh, absolutely, Gloria. Pilloried? He should be hung, drawn and quartered! How dare he? Thanks so much for the fun review :) Craig

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

Love this one, Craig. Yes, she good old Noah Webster may have added to the confusion between versions of English, it's nothing like the what's happening socially and linguistically today. I especially liked:
"patriotic means bigoted,
right means loudest."

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2018

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reply by the author on 17-Oct-2018

Thanks very much, Helen. It's sad that it's coming to that. Most grateful, Craig.

Comment from Mustang Patty

Excellent

Hi, Craig,

We really do need a dictionary that would help us to understand all the idioms, but I think we are all supposed to using the same language and no geographical dialects are encouraged.

I'm serious -- when you used to travel in the U.S., there were all kinds of lovely accents in the south, the northeast, New York and New Jersey, and the dialectic of the Midwest.

It all sounds the same now. I hardly ever hear a great accent,

Thank you for sharing a great word,

~MP~

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2018

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reply by the author on 17-Oct-2018

It's odd. In a country that is not much smaller than the mainland US, we scarcely have any regional accents at all. About the only notable different is "cassel" vs "carsel" or "danse" vs "darnse" in a couple of states. Now that you mention it, the American TV shows we get here do seem to have a more "generic" accent than might once have been the case. Cheers, Craig

Comment from BeasPeas

Excellent

Hi Craig. This is a well written piece. It's interesting how word meanings appear to sway to current behavior, but I don't think they do. Words stay the same as always. It's our own spin that muddles their meaning according to our own POV. Marilyn

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2018

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reply by the author on 16-Oct-2018

Thanks very much, Marilyn. There is much truth in that statement. Cheers, Craig

Comment from rama devi

Excellent

I love how you turned this into political satire. brilliant! So true. Well done. Enjoyed this.

NOTES

Why did you choose
to abandon spellings
which(THAT) had served so well?

Well voiced section--delivering a powerful climax after a slow crescendo:

Yet how mild are your changes,
how innocuous a dropped vowel
here and there,
compared to the subversion
taking place today;

when

truth means deception,
honorable means belligerent in denial,
patriotic means bigoted,
right means loudest.


Outstanding closing line:

Come back, Mr Webster,
we need a new idioticon.

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2018

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reply by the author on 16-Oct-2018

Thanks for the delightful comments, RD. Also for the catch - THAT it is! Most grateful, Craig

reply by rama devi on 17-Oct-2018

Happy to help, dear Craig. Best, rd

Comment from Ulla

Excellent

Ah, Graig, this is an interesting poem, and an interesting word raising the topic you're writing about. Yeah, local language certainly exist, which needs it's own dictionary. Such a phenomena existed in Denmark when I was a child. Had to learn about it in school. It claimed to be Danish, but nobody could understand it outside this local community. Total different words were used. Remember, Denmark is very small. Odd. Well written poem. You always have the ability to set me off on a tangent. All the best. Ulla:))

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2018

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reply by the author on 16-Oct-2018

Tangents are good :)

Many thanks for the great review, and the little extra insight into Danish language, Ulla.

Cheers, Craig

Comment from Dawn Munro

Exceptional

He can't return. A puzzle throughout time--why not? Is he channelled by someone born after him? Maybe just reincarnated with no memory of a previous life? Real time travel, that thought, huh?
Yep, we could certainly use an updated version it seems, although if it's okay with you, I'll stick to what I know. I like it much better. (*wink*)(I love your free verse though...)

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2018

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reply by the author on 16-Oct-2018

Haha

Thanks for the delightful comments, Dawn. And the lovely shiny stars. It amazes me when someone likes my free verse, mostly, I can't stand it lol

Very grateful,
Craig

reply by Dawn Munro on 16-Oct-2018

LOL. Ummmmmmmmmm... can't think of anything to say to that one...!!! I'm floored!

Comment from Sandra du Plessis

Excellent

A very well-written poem about the written word and the importance of the correct spelling of words. Apart from the school teacher my mother was a spelling drill sergeant, she insists that we learn to spell correctly. Unfortunately, she was not good with English Grammar.

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2018

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reply by the author on 16-Oct-2018

haha, well no one is good at everything. I'm willing to bet your English grammar is infinitely better than the Afrikaans of pretty much anyone on this site. Thanks very much, Sandra.

Comment from Jannypan (Jan)

Excellent

I enjoyed your free verse poem, Craig. Good job on its style. I like how this reads as if you are speaking directly to Mr.Webster. However, the inclusion of the state of politics brings it to today's crazy, turbulent world. Thanks for sharing. Jan

 Comment Written 16-Oct-2018

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reply by the author on 16-Oct-2018

Thanks very much, Jan. I'm glad you enjoyed. Craig