“Adorable Words” by Mandy Austin Cook
Everybody has a word
a word that blunders over the tongue
as if it were the drunk one of the Three Stooges.
This endearing thing has a percussionary quality to it
that is likable to me.
Ask my grandmother to say aluminum
and it numandnums into oblivion.
What is the definition of infinity?
Aluminuminuminum.
(minum)
if I want to distract my friend into total abandon of thought
I ask her to tell someone
that I would specifically like spaghetti.
yes I am aware her pasta could be seafood
while the p playfully tapdances across the s of the noodles.
My word is contribution
it CONtributes not ConTRIButes to the situaton.
a southern yellow is not mellow
it is yella
as if to make certain your voice is heard
you might yella at a fella.
The warsh somehow tingles with the suggestion
that it’s extra-specially squeaky clean
when pronounced in this fashion.
And if you care to
both pronounce and anunciate
be careful not to
pronunciate.
Adorable words.