Conflicting Similarities of English

Some may have a problem with this title

Such contradictions of sort can’t be vital,

But blame your praises on the language

And by the end of this poem find courage.

In English language there are synonyms

These are words that mean the same thing,

Opposite to these would be the antonyms

Moving from the ending to the beginning.

Then there are words we call homonyms

These are spelt differently but sound alike,

The wonder of wonders is the contronym

One word, opposite meanings: a huge mite.

Aught can mean nothing or it can mean all

Dyke can mean a ditch or might mean wall,

Give out may produce or stop production

Buckle is fall apart; fasten: the other option.

Grade is to level but can also be to incline

Show or hide is screen based on the time,

Fix is to restore but also means castrate

Like an old house or deny a dog its mate.

Cleave to separate or together they will cling

Cut a piece of meat or simply stick something,

Left means who remain or also who departed

Wind up is at the end or a watch when started.

Out may mean the stars or a bulb that’s blown

Out of is outside or “work out” of one’s home,

Put out is to generate or just put out the light

Miss or hit in two games is regarded as a strike.

Then we have transparent, obvious or invisible

One may be a glass or a person quite discernible,

Oversight is responsibility; maybe just an error

Fast may be unmoving or quickly coming terror.

First degree may describe a least severe burn

Or a most severe murder a juror should learn,

Handicap is advantage given to some in a race

Also disadvantage in life that some people face.

Clip like cleave may mean to fasten or detach

Bolt is to secure or a horse that’s hard to catch,

Dusting is to add tiny particles to solve a crime

Or remove tiny particles so that things may shine.

Adding seasonings to our food is to garnish it

And yet to garnish one’s salary is to subtract a bit,

I am starting to end having completed the start

I will share one more verse and then we will part.

For some reason or other I avoid an odd number

What does one do when the stoplight says amber?

Whoever heard of a stoplight that knows colour?

And if it’s a stoplight why move at all, why bother?

Count all these verses and they number thirteen

I’ve added two more verses; I know you’ve seen,

Twice I have lied yet I have told you the truth

Check after verse eleven and you’ll have the proof.

Stewart Russell © 2014