Because we all want to write more poems.
ONLY IS LONELY
It comes before that which it modifies
A clumsy lover, yet persistent and efficient
John hit Bob on the arm
Only John hit Bob on the arm
John only hit Bob on the arm
John hit only Bob on the arm
John hit Bob only on the arm
(or if Bob is an amputee)
John hit Bob on the only arm
Each lonely only wholly holy
Perfect in meaning
Luminous in righteous perfection
Misunderstood, a bastard word
Proud and fearful
Condemned to only work for fools
- joshua mertz's Shared Poems
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Comments
joshua mertz
December 1, 2012
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Why only is lonelyou
In my years as a teleprompter I was appalled by the widespread misuse of only. It should be closest to that which it modifies. Hence "You'll only see it on ET!!!" implies that you will be unable to hear it. I would correct it to "You'll see it only on ET!!!" and the talent would read it wrong anyway! Gah!!! So I wrote a poem. Ahhhhh...
Michael Mayhew
December 2, 2012
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Ha!
The last line, with its sadly misplaced only, made me laugh aloud. The rest made only me smile.
Neil McKay
December 2, 2012
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The misuse of ONLY has been a
The misuse of ONLY has been a pet peeve with me as well. "This is one of the only cities where..." should be "This is one of the few cities" or "This is the only city where..."