Lost for Words

Sometimes what people say

isn’t what they mean;

when something’s really fun

they say that it’s a scream.

And when it’s raining very hard,

it’s raining cats and dogs,

but all I see upon the ground

are worms and slugs and frogs.

Apparently they’re ‘idioms’ –

nonsense that makes sense,

not because it’s true

but just by general assent.

I tried to make my own up –

said things that were not true,

but I was called a liar

and now I’m feeling blue.

That’s another one of those,

those things that are not lies –

sayings that mean nothing

and mean everything besides.

I think I’ll stick to saying ones

that already exist;

I wouldn’t want you all confused,

or crab, koala, twist.

© Jay Hulme from My Heart is a Poem: Poetry about Feelings (Little Tiger)