2/3/20

The Sibilant Song

Sibilant Song  2004  
(On the occasion of caps on front teeth!)
  -  Joan Levin

Tune: Stormy Weather

Can’t go on, all my sibilants are gone, I’m a lisper!
Can’t even say Mrs. or Mister –
It’s “hey you” all the time!

Once a Ms, now I’ve turned into a myth, my existence, 
Meets each day with dental resistance –
All I can do is mime!

         I can sometimes boil, but I can never sizzle!
         I can speak of rain but not of soaking drizzle!
         I’ll try to explain, and not to whistle --
         And speak like I did again!

The nineteenth – letter stops right at my teeth – 
Enunciation –
Has become one great big aggravation!
I’m lisping all the time!

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