Thursday, August 02, 2012
A Tragical History
Too long have we ignored his unique support to our lexis and to our syntax.
Perhaps we're unable to closely contemplate his unbearably tragic ending which has robbed us all of his further wisdom. Here then is a panegyric dedicated to further immortalizing his life, his work, his untimely death.
Dear reader, please forgive my interrupting this narrative to gently daub the tears which have visited my eyes. Recounting a tragedy of this magnitude, will, in persons of acute sensitivity, evoke an overwhelming sadness.
Mr. Dumpty was first introduced to us, reclining at his leisure, and commenting upon the passing scene. The tragedy about to befall was utterly unexpected - to be brought so low, so swiftly. We've all heard of persons, who upon some stroke of terrible fortune are so broken up that they are no longer able to function. So it was with him.
After such trauma, heroic efforts at rehabilitation are only sometimes successful. Even though the nation's rulers bent their full panoply of resources toward mending Mr. Dumpty - in this case all efforts were unavailing.
Let us now examine some of our hero's great work.
Perhaps his most trenchant expression deals with his flexibility in establishing the meanings of words. Truly we find him a semantic sorcerer when he comments, " When I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less."
Further, we find his ability to decode what will seem to less sophisticated readers as nonsense words, are really newly coined composites - such as "slithy" meaning "lithe and slimy" and mimsy" meaning "flimsy and miserable." These and numerous other similar appellations he explains for us.
Alas. Alas. Alas that such an original mind is now lost to us.
But, despair not my friends. I give you my solemn promise to raise his banner, to carry his mantle, to continue his great work, to glorify his insights, all for the greater benefit of mankind.
To any scoffers among you, I say "glost." This, of course, is a composite meaning "get lost."
