English language

This is a poem that inspired me a lot and for once made me think,writing poems could be fun.

Some words have different meanings,
and yet they’re spelt the same.
A cricket is an insect,
to play it — it’s a game.

On every hand, in every land,
it’s thoroughly agreed,
the English language to explain
is very hard indeed.

Some people say that you’re a dear,
yet dear is far from cheap.
A jumper is a thing you wear,
yet a jumper has to leap.

It’s very clear, it’s very queer,
and pray who is to blame
for different meanings to some words,
pronounced and spelt, the same?

A little journey is a trip,
a trip is when you fall.
It doesn’t mean you have to dance
whene’er you hold a ball.

Now here’s a thing that puzzles me:
musicians of good taste
will very often form a band —
I’ve one around my waist!

You spin a top, go for a spin,
or spin a yarn may be —
yet every spin’s a different spin,
as you can plainly see.

Now here’s a most peculiar thing —
’twas told me as a joke —
a dumb man wouldn’t speak a word,
yet seized a wheel and spoke.

A door may often be ajar,
but give the door a slam,
and then your nerves receive a jar —
and then there’s jars of jam.

You’ve heard, of course, of traffic jams,
and jams you give your thumbs.
And adders, too, one is a snake,
the other adds up sums.

A policeman is a copper,
it’s a nickname (impolite!)
yet a copper in the kitchen
is an article you light.

On every hand, in every land,
it’s thoroughly agreed —
the English language to explain
is very hard indeed!


Written by Harry Hemsley