My Old Thesaurus

My old thesaurus split in two,

A “treasure house” when it was new.

That’s what it means in Latin, too;

I’ve used it many years.

 

I thought it was from school, but no.

It’s dated 1990, so

I guess I’d hoped my words would flow

If I were switching gears.

 

When writing poems, it’s at my side,

For synonyms, it does provide.

Yet, lately, it can’t be denied,

To the phone my searching steers.

 

The split’s on page 170 –

From “gentleman” to “give,” which, see,

Is on the next page; you’d agree

That, like most of your peers,

 

It’s easier to use the phone,

Which everybody seems to own.

Thesauruses that we have known

Are retro souvenirs.