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Home Poetry Humor

‘Vexed By A Verb!’ by E. V. Wyler

February 3, 2017
in Humor, Poetry
A A
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Portrait of a Lady circa 1775 Angelica Kauffmann 1741-1807 Presented by Mrs M. Bernard 1967 https://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/T00928

Portrait of a Lady circa 1775 Angelica Kauffmann 1741-1807 Presented by Mrs M. Bernard 1967 https://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/T00928

 

“Vexed by a verb!” I often vent,
undeniably discontent.
Let my quirky quote be the key
to promoting a patent plea
for the status I’d reinvent:

Pairing “I am” with “years” has meant
an identity I resent;
being defined by age makes me
vexed by a verb!

The remedy I’d implement,
ownership of the time one’s spent,
prefers “to have” over “to be”;
hence, “having” years will guarantee
my halting to holler hell-bent
“Vexed by a verb!”

 

E. V. “Beth” Wyler grew up in Elmont, NY.  At 43, she obtained her associate’s degree from Bergen Community College.  She and her husband, Richard, share their empty Fair Lawn, NJ nest with 3 cats and a beta fish.  Her oldest daughter is a biomedical engineer and her other two children are SUNY undergraduate students.  E. V. Wyler’s poetry has been published in:  The Storyteller, Feelings of the Heart, WestWard Quarterly, The Pink Chameleon, Nuthouse Magazine, The Rotary Dial, and on the website Poetry Soup.  In addition, 3 accepted poems are pending publication in Vox Poetica.

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Comments 4

  1. Hibah Shabkhez says:
    9 years ago

    😀

    Reply
  2. Bob McGinness says:
    9 years ago

    Why even Hamlet would repent,
    when he heard your argument.
    And choose the option, not “to be,”
    instead “to have” would query he.

    Reply
  3. Kim Cherub says:
    7 years ago

    E. V.,

    I can think of many verbs that have vexed me! I like your poem but I do have one question: Shouldn’t it be “undeniably discontented”?

    Reply
    • E. V. says:
      7 years ago

      Good question! If “undeniably discontent” is bad grammar, then I’d change the line because the “-ent” ending of “discontent” is required to pair with “vent”. However, although “discontent” is usually used as a noun, I believe it can be used as an adjective, too. Here’s a link to the M.W. dictionary definition:

      http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/discontent

      Evan? Any thoughts?

      Reply

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