​(A proofreader's note regarding “deprivation” and “depravation”)

The damaging lack in “deprivation”
Has moral corruption none,
But wickedness in “depravation”
Is gradually sown and grown.

“Deprive” implies withhold from having,
Thus cuing thoughts of “lack”;
“Deprave” paves way to corruption certain,
As real as a mortal attack.

(A proofreader's note regarding “enumerable” and “innumerable.”)

“Enumerable” is to enumerate
As countable is to count;
But with the word “innumerable,”
Futility must abound.

It says “too many” in number to count,
While “numerous” says “many.”
Innumerable are the stars above,
More mighty in number than any.

By virtue of its very size
Or lack of finite bounds,
That number is non-countable,
Despite the awe it crowns.

​

(A proofreader's note on “discreet” and “discrete.”)

Although the plan was now complete,
Its crafters had been too discreet;
Some members mocked the pure conceit 
Of those who worked on crew discrete.

This latter few, to be discreet,
Had kept all parley close indeed,
And members of the trusted group
Were individual “joes” by creed,

Whose lives were separate, thus “discrete.”
If separation is implied,
A gap between the e's is clue,
Enforced by “t” and safely plied;

But when the two are cheek by jowl,
The word expressed must be “discreet,”
Judiciousness in act or speech,
With emphasis on silence neat.

​

​(A proofreader's note regarding “elude” and “allude.")

The hunted dude hid shy of shoe,
Deliberate in the nude;
His exit with the bodies bare
Would all pursuit elude.

Illusiveness no less was sought,
In desperate bid to flee.
The prospect brought a heady rush;
One couldn’t wait to see.

And so this tale would merely hint
The meaning of “elude,”
Which thereby is “alluded” to,
As literary food.

Indeed, restricted to “allude”
We kept the telling true,
Not offering up its friend “elude”
But surely hinting through.

Adroit avoidance with “elude”
Is commonly what's meant,
Though “fail to be attain-ed by”
Is often the intent.

“The championship eludes them still.”
“A nap eludes the coach.”
“A certain rule eludes the kids.”
“Free pass eludes the roach.”

(A proofreader's note regarding “comprise” and “compose.”)

A Role in the Whole

Each part must play a given role
In every thing that's whole;
The whole of it comprises parts 
That constitute the whole.

Together they compose the whole,
Whatever role the whole;
The role may be to touch the soul,
A goal we all extoll.

But even goals within the whole
Of smaller roles consist;
The greater whole they thus compose,
Enabling to subsist.

Let's take as example a plant much revered
For fragrance and medicine both;
The lilac comprises many surprises,
From scent to hue to growth.

​

(A proofreader's note regarding “censor” and “censure.”) 

(Editing that occurs without a governmental mandate may not strictly qualify as censoring. Furthermore, “censuring” does not involve actual suppression of content but, rather, a near condemnation of one's actions/behavior.)

The incense from a single censer
Perfumed the gloomy room
Wherein he sat, the aging censor,
Reviewing writs to doom.

Religious fervor struck the project,
Though government enjoined,
And gave the opposition members
A way to make a point.

It took the form of devious censure
Against the censor turned;
Withdrawn and fairly quiet by nature,
The aging censor burned.

​