No! That's not what I meant, eh?

I Meant To Say


A Poem

By Izzy Sommers

I meant to say, “I’m very fond of you.”
But, all that came, a little lame, were words
Of unimportance, words about your togs,
About your dogs, about the rains and fogs.
I meant to say, “I love you very much.”
So nervous were my hands, I spilt the soup.

When you excused yourself to clean your dress,
The stress, I felt, completely overwhelmed
Attempts at calm and spontaneity.
I knew disaster, master, plaster, fast
Approached, as only when I’m quite upset
Do rhyming unconnected thoughts ensue,
Like salamander, oleander, and
Newt, boot, coot, loot, root, moot, pollute and toot.

When you returned and smiled, I felt your touch.
Though hutch, clutch, Dutch and such, contrived
To thwart my court, I smiled and said, “I’m very
Fond of you. I love you very much.”

THE END

[refrain:]

I meant to say, "I'm very fond of you." But
All that came, a little lame, were words of
Unimportance, words about some fogs, about
Your dogs, togs, clogs, frogs and the bogs.
I meant to say, "I love you very much."
Instead, I spilt the split pea soup on you.
As you excused yourself to clean your dress,
The stress, I felt, completely overwhelmed
Attempts at calm and spontaneity. I feared
Disaster, master, plaster fast approached,
As only when I'm quite upset do rhyming
Unconnected thoughts ensue, like salamander,
Oleander, and newt, boot, coot, loot, root,
Moot, pollute and toot. When you returned,
And smiled, I felt your touch. Though
Hutch, clutch, Dutch and such, contrived to
Thwart my court, I smiled and clearly said,

"I'm very fond of you.
I love you very much."

[...and, again...]

I meant to say, "I'm very fond of you." But
All that came, a little lame, were words of
Unimportance, words about some fogs, about
Your dogs, togs, clogs, frogs and the bogs.
I meant to say, "I love you very much."
Instead, I spilt the split pea soup on you.
As you excused yourself to clean your dress,
The stress, I felt, completely overwhelmed
Attempts at calm and spontaneity. I feared
Disaster, master, plaster fast approached,
As only when I'm quite upset do rhyming
Unconnected thoughts ensue, like salamander,
Oleander, and newt, boot, fruit, loot, root,
Moot, pollute and toot. When you returned,
And smiled, I felt your touch. Though
Hutch, clutch, Dutch and such, contrived to
Thwart my court, I smiled and clearly said,

"I'm very fond of you.
I love you very much."

[...definitely, THE END]