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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.”
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(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.
- Published on
(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.
- Published on
(A proofreader's note regarding “appraise” and “apprise”)
Two verbs that “diff” by single vowel
“Apprise” and sibling are;
The “a” that makes “appraise” more senior
Adds age and wisdom far.
By virtue of this dispensation,
It aims to scrutinize;
And thus “appraise” involves assessment,
Achieved by critical eyes.
“Appraise” may therefore be praising or razing,
Depending on its end.
“Apprise,” instead, is mostly a telling,
Though gain-in-value friend.
Two verbs that “diff” by single vowel
“Apprise” and sibling are;
The “a” that makes “appraise” more senior
Adds age and wisdom far.
By virtue of this dispensation,
It aims to scrutinize;
And thus “appraise” involves assessment,
Achieved by critical eyes.
“Appraise” may therefore be praising or razing,
Depending on its end.
“Apprise,” instead, is mostly a telling,
Though gain-in-value friend.
- Published on
(A proofreader's note on “blatant” and “flagrant”)
The “flagrant” and “blatant” will never be fragrant
But full of offensiveness both,
With “blatant” hinting this certain distinction,
“Served open like unto an oath.”
In terms of a scale of their badness or wrongness,
The “flagrant” is thought of as worse;
But given the outcome as clearly obtrusive,
Then “blatant” is rightly the curse.
Since that which is “blatant” is done in the open
Without the shame that's due,
The word emphasizes “offensively conspicuous”
And failure also to rue.
Thus, closely akin to “blatant” is “brazen,”
Which poses unashamed,
For “brazen” is rude with a boldness exceptional,
At level for it to be famed.
- Published on
(A proofreader's note regarding “leach” and “leech")
The little leech on Lisa latched
So firmly was attached
That remedies both dire and rash
Were serious options hashed.
If only she were granular
And rightly soluble,
Then she and leech could separate
By leaching possible.
Not being a sacrificial leech,
Yet leech-like with aplomb,
The worm has offered no response,
Advantage-taking some.
Advantage-taking discomforts
May carry itches each,
Thus causing cries of “eeeh” to be,
And pointing then to “leech.”
Habitually sponging on a chum
Defines for us this leech;
It need not be an actual worm
But simply fill the niche.
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(A proofreader's note to illustrate “eminence” and “imminence”)
From “standing out” comes “eminent,”
“Important,” “famous” then to mean,
While “imminent” from “overhang”
Will “happening soon” a warning keen.
"'Twas from a minor eminence
His Eminence the Bishop spoke;
And now that eminence is known,
More famous than its simple folk.
"The lack of true preeminence
Throughout the years did bother some,
While others claimed it immanent,
Predicting insight yet to come.
"A reckoning is imminent,
Desired by those most skeptical;
Will it provide immense disproof
Or just enough to render null?"
A looming status qualifies
And clear defines this imminence,
Its likely outcome negative
And bearing inconvenience.