My Virtual Reading Room

n. fear of big words

Shunning Latinate constructions, I choose
instead the simple Anglo-Saxon
monosyllabic words, simple words.
Why utilize what I can use? I want to
make sense, not fabricate matter for
comprehension. Call it a fear, a phobia,
but my skin crawls when I hear pseudo-
words like functionality or paradigm.

In the beginning, we are told, was the Word.
and He spoke the world into being with
"Let there be light!" not "Illuminate this
cosmological nothingness into existence."
Imagine Matthew penning, "The Messiah
grew copiously lachrymose" instead of
"Jesus wept."

As I work on my own humble creations,
I seek clean, clear words, simple ideas:
Leave pomegranates, gorgonzola, and
osculation to other more erudite lovers;
I’ll tell you, in no uncertain terms, I
love you. I will feed you apples and
cheese. We will share one sweet kiss.


From Let the Lady Speak (January 2011)