Concise Oxford Dictionary

I'm not afraid of pussy cats
They only eat up mice and rats
But a hippopotamus
Could eat the lot of us

                    Spike Milligan

Ok, it's basically for fun. This is the silly season after all. But there is some rhyme and reason (beyond a tribute to the late great godfather of post-war British comedy...note the way the third and fourth lines, which ought to have eight syllables apiece, have seven and then six - hence that stubbing your toe on a fold in the carpet feeling: the humour is all in the rhythm). The rhyme and reason being this: we think it's a worthwhile discipline for every practitioner of a profession to have an occasional ponder on its limitations. 

As writers, for example, we are accustomed to chaffing somewhat at the old saw 'a picture is worth a thousand words'. And yet... 

What's a hippopotamus? "It's a large African pachydermatous tusked hairless short-legged quadruped inhabiting rivers etc." (Love that 'etc'.)

What's a hippopotamus?

You'd have to call that no contest. 

Have a good month.

Kind regards


Alan Paterson
ampers&
020 7379 5869
www.wherewordswork.com

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