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Question: Is this a savage and obscene plosive or one of the "Best of American Poetry 2007" !?
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ETYMOLOGY
by Marilyn Nelson


The filth hissed at us when we venture out—
always in twos or threes, never alone—
seems less a language SPOKEN than one SPAT
in savage plosives, primitive, obscene:
a cavemob nya-nya, limited in frame
of reference and novelty, the same
suggestions of what we or they could do,
or should, AD INFINITUM!. Yesterday,
a mill girl spat a phrase I’d never heard
before!. I stopped and looked at her, perplexed!.
I derived its general from the context,
but was stumped by the etymology of one word!.
What was its source!? Which demon should we thank
for words it must be an abomination to think!?

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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
My brow furrows as i try to understand this: here goes

To me it seemed to be about being in a strange dangerous place or country where despite the language barrier the writer was able to feel the disdain the locals had for them!. That they way words are spoken is as revealing as the words themselves

If I have totally butchered this, I am sorryWww@QuestionHome@Com

'Which demon should we thank,!.!.' I like this; it is the kind of thing you do ('You may blame them!.!.!." = for something good that occurred)!.

This is a poem; it deserves the title!. The poem expresses the poet's shock at the use of certain terminology by a child!. The expression allows the reader to guess which word was used to suggest 'what we or they could do/or should!.!.!.'

It does not reveal the word, thereby engaging the readers' thoughts and interest in the poem!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I have read this before, I think here on Y/A!.
I see it as a commentary on the lowest of the human classes, the ones who operate below the radar of normal society!. I think you may call them trailer trash in the USA- we call them Gippos or dids (from didicoi, itinerant gypsies) in England!. They have no care or connection with the mores of society and live on the fringes by whatever brings the money in, legal or otherwise,

To meet, or worse still cross them, is a chastening experience!.

The poem is a fairly accurate portrayal of such a meeting!.Www@QuestionHome@Com