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A Nose for Wordplay

By Lori Alden Holuta on January 26, 2020

Here is a little poem by Willard R. Espy, who wrote wonderful wordplay books in the 70s and 80s. On my shelves I have “Almanac of Words at Play” and “O Thou Improper, Thou Uncommon Noun” but really, I recommend every book he has ever written.

I HAVE A LITTLE PHILTRUM

(The philtrum is the vertical groove in the middle of the upper lip, running to the nose.)

I have a little philtrum
Wherein my spilltrum flows
When I am feeling illtrum
And runny at the nose.

Willard R. Espy’s Books at Goodreads

Willard R. Espy, 1977
Willard R. Espy, 1977

Published in Authors

Lori Alden Holuta

Lori Alden Holuta lives between the cornfields of mid-Michigan, where she grows vegetables, teas and herbs, when she’s not playing games with a cat named Chives. Find her book reviews, recipes, and other surprises at ceejaywriter.com

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