I was getting bored with rhyme,
So I thought I’d spend some time
Seeking words that poets never put in verses,
But I soon found that this antic
Was an exercise pedantic,
And the effort sure provoked a lot of curses.

I thought, "Hey! there’s Oxymoron,
That’s a word I’m sure to score on."
Then it struck me that I’d just about defined it!
So I did a lot more musing,
And some learned books perusing!
Thinking my idea should work if I refined it!

I thought, "Let’s try Lemniscate,
That just means a figure eight",
Then I realized that choice was quite absurd,
For I saw that this rendition
Rhymed well with its definition,
So I just set out to seek another word.
I discovered Paradigm,
But I learned it rhymed with Time;
That’s the way the language scholar will pronounce it;
Then there’s Onomatopoeia,
But I think that rhymes with Beer,
So sadly I reluctantly denounce it.

Thought I’d use the word Elastic,
But it sounded like Bombastic,
So I stretched a point and tried another word;
Then my use of Obfuscation
Just confused the Situation,
And in any case, it’s very seldom heard!

Now it isn’t Meritorious
If considered Parsimonious,
And there are so many words from which to choose.
Let’s not live in Tenebrosity,
But speak with Generosity,
And if we keep it simple, we can’t lose!

I don’t need to wax Salacious,
Even when I get Loquacious,
And I’m very careful of the words I use,
So if I seem Hyperbolic
Please don’t think me Alcoholic,
Just attribute it to poetry, not booze.

I’ve discovered by this time
That it’s tricky not to rhyme,
For too many words have endings , all the same;
Whether well used or obscure
You can always be quite sure
That it’s never dull to play the rhyming game.

Note: When in doubt, consult Funk & Wagnall!

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