On the Tip of My Tongue
A damn stubborn word that,
It sticks to the tongue and refuses to be spat
The word is known quite well by me,
Now what can that damn sticky word be?
It stuck in my mouth like peanut butter
Not a syllable of the word can I utter
I learned the word when I was young
I know what it is it’s on the tip of my tongue.
Come out you damn word
So you can be heard
Don’t stick or stop or stall
And off my lips you’ll easily fall
Now stop playing this shy little game
All I want is to speak out your name
But instead you stay where you are hung
And I can’t get you off the tip of my tongue.
Forget the damn word I cannot recall
Forget this one word, forget them all
I cannot remember or say the word clear
In my mouth it will stay not reaching the ear
But hope yet arises when a tingle I feel
In my mouth as the word that holds fast starts to peel
Then by lightening I’m struck and jolted and stung
As the word pries itself from the tip of my tongue
©2010 Julie Shumway Hill
March 13, 2010 at 9:52 pm
A delightful poem…so cleverly constructed…how many times have we all had that word “on the tip of” our tongues…excellent.