EXTINCTION
Nonesuch now as zoological gardens wherein
roamed five fit syllables in the morphemic jungle of the first word
and a pair of “ohs” long since extinct
—or transformed as the case may be—
into that breathy note of wonder:
Oo!—after the ever exotic “Z”
Few know the furtive root of the current term:
“Zo-on”—animal—in the essential ancient Greek
but essence is not necessary to the spectator in the
palpitating present
nor the nature of the exhibit behind steel or steely glass
but only the entertainment expedient where one syllable
—like the surface scratch of amusement spark—
will do just fine
-- John Zedolik