There was a man who went to the Sunday word market
He ventured for the first time
Among poets and wordsmiths.
He trod cautiously feeling out of his depth
For here were academics, learned and wise people
All vying for the ultimate word
The one to make all the difference.
They wanted more than expertise
Each lusted to be the grand master of all words.
It’s a lifetime search and the man
Wise enough to know, was amazed
To see these so called masters
Toing and froing, throwing words at each other
As if in a game, a game to the death.
Every obscure word was on display
Renowned etymologists stood behind their stalls
Selling the origins of words
Securing the newest usage
Blending and twisting
Shaping new and riveting meanings,
Illustrating this usage and that
Giving new insights and uses for words
That were for the most part inefficacious
In a very Sisyphean sort of way.
Inutile joked one to another,
With a knowing wink and nod.
The man who thought he was a budding poet
Loved words, random ones at that,
Gathered a bank for later use
Packed into his word bag
He returned home, satisfied,
Eager to do the one thing
Pretentious frowned upon
To be himself, write his words
Be happy they made sense to him.
After all he wanted nothing nugatory
Uttered about his efforts.
He thought this as he wrote his new poem
An Ode on his kitchen table.
Written for: https://dversepoets.com/2016/05/12/open-link-night-171/
Morpethroad 
Best thing to do, gather and use them if it makes you happy ~ Love the idea of the word market and bringing it to the kitchen table Michael ~
Thank you Grace, have a good day…
An “Ode to a Kitchen Table” would be more friendly and intimate than an “Ode to a Dining Table” which would probably be very formal. As always, your wordsmithery succeeds, Michael 🙂
Thank you Lyn you are as always very kind to me…
🙂
Love the fairy tale feel of this, Michael. And the ending lines are just yummy! ♥
Thank you Magaly, hope you are having a good day…
I love the tangibility of that last line, especially. I can see him.
Thank you, glad you can as he tries once again to write something sensible…
Oh this is exactly what I want to do with words.. gather and bend (maybe even mend them)… but the nose-in-the-air I can live without…
Thank you Bjorn, Good luck with it…
Gorgeous write Michael 🙂 this poem has such a dream-like feeling to it.
Thank you Sanaa.
Started laughing at having to look up the second unknown word (to me) in this poem. Dverse has kept me busy tonight with having to run to the dictionary – six in all so far!
Just think what you can say should anyone ask you if you learned anything today…
I plan on using it that way, you can be sure!
Loved this, Michael! Sometimes it can be overwhelming to be faced with such ‘expertise’ and those with apparently superior knowledge. Writing from the heart though – that’s what’s important. You nailed it!
Thank you Freya after being intimidated by so many poets and feeling inadequate in that I often have no idea as to what they are saying I decided to take the advice of a friend who said my blog is mine write what you want. So I do. And I enjoy the process. Hope you are keeping well and thanks for the encouragement.
Oh, I feel the same! And your blog is all you – long may it continue that way!
Thank you.
I feel that I have a quite humble little blog with just plain everyday speech written there. I’ve read many a poem that I didn’t have a clue as to what they were trying to say and with sometimes very obscure words (do you suppose that they actually speak that way in their everyday life)? I love your poem today and that title too, Michael, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
Gayle ~
Glad I’m not the only one Gayle….I write for me now days and I love the process…..some days I look at a prompt and have nothing so I let it go…..I’ve stopped pushing myself to write on everything I see and let’s face it there are no shortages of challenges out there.
Thank you so much for your supportive comment Gayle, have a good weekend.
That you love the process is what’s important I believe. And no there is certainly no shortage of challenges out there. I’m glad you chose to share with OLN. Enjoy your weekend too, Michael.
Thanks Gayle….take care..