Friday, August 26, 2022

Positively Peristreronic

Hello, Hello!

I've been rushing around remembering my get-ready-for-school routine these days. And, it's been really nice to be back in a school full of kids. We are all settling nicely and finding our grooves. 

This past week, I spent some time as a writing student with writing prompts from professor-poet, Dr. Sarah Donovan's Open Write at Ethical ELA. Saturday's guest writer, Gayle Sands, provided a prompt that encouraged poets to find an uncommon word from Merriam-Webster and use it as a prompt. Fun! 

Gayle also provided a great word tool that I'm new to...but I love and hope to use with students next week: 

wordhippo.com 

The result of my learning was enthusiasm for new words and ideas for teaching and learning with students I'm now meeting. This is a win-win!

The word...

Peristeronic
Definition: of or relating to pigeons

Pigeons get short-shrift in our stable of avian metaphors. We speak of someone with fine eyesight as eagle-eyed, and hawk lends itself to a variety of words (hawk-like, hawkish, etc.), but rarely do we compare anyone to the humble, intelligent pigeon. Truth be told, it is unlikely that you have a distinct need to use this word anytime soon, but if it happens we want you to be prepared.Besides the poor, who, to misquote a scriptural phrase, are always in evidence, and the scarlet fever epidemic, which, thank goodness, is abating, London at this writing has a congress of the National Society of French Professors, an exhibition of the National Peristeronic Society and a fog—a fog with a big F.

The Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 1888

The definito verse that came from it:

Positively Peristeronic

a nodding amble
quizzical sideways gambol
breadcrumb to breadcrumb
to any edible gift
positively peristeronic


(c) Linda Mitchell



Last week's wordplay at Ethical ELA also produced a poem for Star's padlet: https://padlet.com/mitchellhubeimom/4bzbfu2cg5k7awk5/wish/2272536822

Thank you, Tanita Davis, for hosting Poetry Friday today! I can't wait to see what everyone's been up to.

10 comments:

  1. Linda, I just recently learned about WordHippo, too. What a terrific site.
    And peristeronic is a new word for me. I never would have guessed its meaning, but your Definito definitely creates an image of a pigeon in my mind. Hope the new school year gets off to a terrific start for you!

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  2. Thank you for the new word! You're a month early with your Definito, but you've got my brain tumbling. Peristeronic is such a great word!!! I have a group of about six doves who've decided to live with us, and as they're just solidly colored pigeons I'm happy to have a new word to describe them.

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  3. Linda, what a great challenge. I do love words and the thesaurus. You found a great word to write a definito poem. The info was interesting and thanks for Word Hippo. It will be very useful. Have a great day!

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  4. I think our undervalued peristeronic feathered friends would get a rousing
    wing-tickle from your upbeat pigeon poem–lovely, and great pic too, thanks Linda!

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  5. Peristeronic is a new word for me and your definito paints a great picture. Fantastic word choice throughout--love gambol and amble! So glad to hear you're settling into a groove and your year is off and running.

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  6. So creative in your Definito! These odes to the peristeronic elevate them beyond the "sky rats" that annoy many of us!

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  7. Oh I love diving into things like this! Fabulous poem.

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  8. Love your peristeronic definito! Peristeronic is definitely a new word for me. Thank you for introducing me to WordHippo. What a great site!

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  9. PERFECTION! You captured the essence of pigeons in just a few words. I'm going to take a look at WordHippo and see if it might replace RhymeZone for my every thesaurus/rhyming needs!

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  10. I need to explore WordHippo more! Thanks for the reminder. And you capture pigeons wonderfully!

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Friendly, positive comments and feedback are always welcome here. Please let me know I'm not just whistling in the dark!