The Double-Tongued Word Wrester is "A Growing Dictionary of Old and New Words From the Fringes of English", like "shelf shout" "chillax" and "open (up) daylight". For this Funexcise, write a poem containing at least 10 words or phrases from this dictionary.

OK, Henry's right. How about "any neologisms or popular slang that are not in most normal dictionaries but which readers might be able to guess at from the context?"

Here's a link to NYCTom's thread on General talk:
http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/ubbhtm...ML/001368.html

And Henry has posted another good link right down there.

Sharon, since this has drawn zero response so far, may I suggest relaxing the conditions a little? There are so many words in that online source, one doesn’t know where to start. How about accepting any neologisms or popular slang that are not in most normal dictionaries but which readers might be able to guess at from the context?

I came up with the following based on the recent survey of “favorite words not in the dictionary” at Merriam-Webster Online .


Lexanoia on the Roads

It’s borderland season, wing or sprinter;
billboards convie to exploit us;
the slickery highway has snirt on its verges
along with the rusting detroitus.

The kids in the back either speak in whinese
or read me a riddle’s prescription.
I’m all riddled out, asphinxiated,
and the tires aren’t finding much gription.

At the traffic lights I’m impatient, pregreening.
I fume at the thought of that hag,
the checkout woman who packed the smushables
under the cans in my bag.

And those medical tests: there’s a quackmire ahead
of the X-rays and needles I hate.
Next week I might be fatally ill;
for now I’ll precuperate.

But then I recall the espacular lady
beside me, who heads my agenda;
she is the one who daily sinspires me.
Oh woot, when I see her nudenda!




[This message has been edited by Henry Quince (edited May 29, 2005).]

Good idea, funny poem. Thanks, Henry.