Wondrous Words Wednesday - Poetry

This week’s words (all nouns) are from Favorite Poems Old and New.

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CLOCK-A-CLAY
Who is a lady-bird
by John Clare

In the cowslip pips I lie,
Hidden from the buzzing fly,
While green grass beneath me lies,
Pearled with dew like fishes’ eyes,
Here I lie, a clock-a-clay,
Waiting for the time of day.

1. cowslip
(n) [KOU-slip)

Definition—swamp plant of Europe and North America having bright yellow flowers resembling buttercups

2. pips
(n)

Definition—a small hard seed found in some fruits

3. clock-a-clay 
(n)

Definition—a ladybug (ladybird beetle)

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TO THE LADY-BIRD
Lady-bird! Lady-bird! fly  away home;
     The fairy-bells tinkle afar;
Make haste, or they’ll catch you and harness you fast
With a cobweb to Oberon’s car

4. Oberon 
(n) [O-be-ron]

Definition—the king of the fairies and husband of Titania in medieval folklore

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THE LOBSTER QUADRILLE
by Lewis Carroll
“Will you walk a little faster?” said a whiting to a snail,
“There’s a porpoise close behind us, and he’s treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle—will you come and join the dance?
    Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you,
         will you join the dance?
    Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you,
         won't you join the dance?”

5. whiting  
[my apologies to the Whitings for not knowing your name meant so much more]
(n) [WHITE-ing]

Definition—a food fish of the Atlantic waters of Europe resembling the cod

6. shingle
[n] 

Definition—course gravel of small waterworn stones found on beaches (or a stretch of shore covered with such gravel)

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For more new words, visit Kathy’s site.