Tautonyms are words containing two identical or similar parts that share a rhyme (a segment, syllable, or morpheme).
Tautonyms are also referred to as 'rhyming reduplicatives.' These wonderful word pairs provide a poet with opportunities to indulge in a little word play. They are everyday utterances that deliver delight. So, without hesitation, I dived straight in for some tautonym tomfoolery.
May I be so bold as to advise you to read the poem aloud? It adds to the experience of these tautonyms tripping off the tongue.
Don’t shilly-shally
Not even for an itty
bitty.
In the hurly burly,
Just remember to razzle
dazzle.
Holy moly,
It’s easy-peasy.
Jeepers creepers,
Use your peepers
Don’t boogie woogie
Or be arty-farty
And all
higgledy-piggledy.
Forget the mumbo-jumbo
Avoid double-trouble
Don’t be wishy-washy
And everything will be
super-duper.
Just make sure
silly-billy
Doesn’t get the
heebie-jeebies
When it comes to the
nitty-gritty.
Okey-dokey?
Alan j Wright
It's Poetry Friday! Carol Labuzzeta hosts this week’s Poetry Friday roundup at The Apples In My Orchard
Alan, Thanks for sharing this fun to read (and probably, write) poem. It reminds me of my mom who loved word play and is also something I would have used while substitute teaching to make the children laugh and converse.
ReplyDeletePleased you enjoyed this little piece of wordplay, Carol. It was certainly fun in the making.
DeleteAlan, as usual you provide a new poetic idea in the form of a truly fun poem. You are right. Reading the poem put loud was a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteGlad you invested in a read aloud, Carol. Double the fun. Thank for your positive remarks.
DeleteThanks for this fun poem, Alan! Delightful!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Rose.
DeleteWowie zowie, Alan! :) Fun stuff!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a little fun with this, Karen. That was certainly my aim in sharing it.
DeleteSo fun! I love that these have a name!
ReplyDeleteThere's something quite re-assuring that language features we readily identify have an actual name attached to them, Marcie.
DeleteI love learning about language -- another -nym! Who knew? And SUCH a fun poem!
ReplyDeleteAnother nym indeed, Mary Lee. Glad you enjoyed the poem.
DeleteBut I love to shilly-shally! :)
ReplyDeleteFeel free to indulge your need to shilly-shally, Patricia.
DeleteOkey-dokey those are funzy-onesie, thanks for all the smiles Alan! 😊
ReplyDeleteYou're on a roll. Michelle. Glad they made you smile.
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