I meet a man who knows how to turn a phrase. |
Shall I tell you what once a man did say? “Fools esteem, yet sane sapiens okay.” I looked at him with both eyes in amaze; impressed was I the way he turned a phrase. A lot of people find it hard to cope; (apologies to Alexander Pope.) Fools admire, but men of sense approve; fresh are expressions--new words make them move. “Okay,” said I to man with wordy tongue: “Are you complete, or have you just begun?” Then he who looked as if he swallowed birds, said, “Let me rearrange a few more words.” He spoke while holding up a bony thumb: “Respect is the female offspring of dumb.” (Ben Franklin must be turning in his grave; oft times a winding tongue will misbehave.) I looked at him with pizza on my plate; a gaunt old man with phrasing as a trait. “Ben Franklin’s quote,” I said, “Which you made new;” “however, using dumb is rather rude.” “Yet I like sane sapiens, I do indeed.” (This qualifier seemed to plant a seed.) So in the Food Court there was take and give; a turn of phrase can make expressions live. A grateful patron in the Court was me; “I thank you sir,” became, “Grace unto thee.” 26 Lines Writer’s Cramp Winner 11-16-15 ________ The two expressions refreshed in this piece are these: 1.) “Fools admire, but men of sense approve.” --Alexander Pope 2.) “Admiration is the daughter of ignorance.” --Benjamin Franklin |