Whatever this pandemic might have wrought
Aside from sickness, death, economic disarray
The most curious sign of its unwelcome presence has no
Heart wrenching, fear inducing, or painful characteristics.
Instead we find everywhere symptoms of linguistic competition.
Yes, really. What we have is a war between adjectives.
Or, more accurately, a war between users of adjectives.
It begins with two wrap-around words: THESE……TIMES
But, what times are these? What adjective should fill in the blank?
The answers to these questions are found in an ever-lengthening list.
Unprecedented was introduced early on by NPR:
“These Unprecedented Times”
Not to be outdone, other news media proposed
Unusual, Turbulent, Anxious, and Confusing.
Weeks wore on and creative media professionals added
Trying, Uncertain, Challenging, Difficult and Extraordinary.
Still, the pandemic marched right on, refusing to leave, and
Journalists thought we needed vocabulary refreshment.
Thus we were given the gloomy Tough, Dark, Troubled, and Dangerous.
Not yet enough apparently, because just the other day
The journalists at Some Good News gifted us with Bizarre.
You know, I believe that just may say it all at last.
And it comes from broadcasters who refuse to look at these times
in any way but a positive one. And so….
The victory in the War Between Words goes to…
“THESE BIZARRE TIMES”
Congratulations and thanks, to our cheerful friends at SGN!
THESE….TIMES