Antidisestablishmentarianism

by Norman Ball

“Properly, opposition to the disestablishment of the Church of England, but popularly cited as an example of a long word.” – Oxford English Dictionary

To define this word on record-breaking strength

is to curse the more succinct for lacking length.

For this outsized word seems rooted in a mission:

to uproot (through size) its proper definition.

 

My suspicion is some cunning, cleric-scribe,

bent on dictionary fame through diatribe,

seized a perfectly benign church-state dispute

and affixed it with syllabic ill-repute.

 

Let's establish, sitting down, a standing rule:

not to stand prosthetic words on gimpy stools,

as their borrowed girths make light of levity.

In a word, the grace we seek is: brevity .

Author's Note: This poem would not have been possible without the renowned 19th century dispute involving the Church of England and the British government. Of course, this church/state tension continues into the present day, and probably will always be with us.

Norman Ball is a Scottish-born writer, musician and poet residing in Herndon, Virginia (close to Washington, D.C.). He may be reached by email at norm@normanball.com .