Hi Simon,
Thanks for your take on this. I've changed some words to mimic what I think may be closer to current diction, doing so with doubts that there's one short list of words that people commonly use in conversation and no others. For instance, because Eminem or Snoop Dog would not say, tarry, or piddle, or dawdle, I would not feel too remorseful if I did, or feel guilty either of being condescending. From what I read in much modern poetry, the whole idea of poets using conversational language is more a dictum that academics quote rather than an art they actually practice. I'll admit, of course, that words fall out of use. But if my dictionary does not identify them as archaic, I think it's a judgement call as to when to say their time has come.
Jim
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