Wacky Words

Perhaps you thought a pillar was a man who swallowed pills,

Which had flavours like vanilla and were meant to cure his ills,

But no pillars will be sickly, for they’re strong and stout and tall.

They are there to hold the roof up and without them it would fall.

Perhaps you thought a meddler was a man who went to war

And then came back home with medals that he didn’t wear before,

But most meddlers are a nuisance, for they like to interfere,

So that when they finish meddling, then their victims give a cheer!

Perhaps you thought a pedlar would be one to ride a bike,

Pushing pedals from its saddle with no wish to drive or hike,

But while pedlars can be mobile, for they have their wares to sell,

They may spread their goods on pavement and walk to your door as well.

It’s true, some words we read in books can give the wrong idea,

But using helpful dictionaries can make their meanings clear.

Now no pillars, pedlars, meddlers, should be leaving you perplexed,

So I wonder what the word will be you’ll want to look up next!?

Monty Edwards

• Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #34
  

Monty says: “I wasn’t getting far with the picture, so began to look at the actual words “column” and “pillar” and thought how a child unfamiliar with their meaning might interpret them. In the process some other words that could be misunderstood came to me and I had the material for a light-hearted poem about our seemingly crazy language.”