Hapless and Gruntled


If appear is the opposite of disappear
then it only makes good sense
that gruntle is the opposite of disgruntle
and gruntling the method whence

one would smooth the feathers
of someone’s disgruntlement.
We may be on to something here,
so for the sake of argument

let’s look at words that start with non
and mean the opposite of their root,
like nonviolent and violent,
should all words follow suit?

It may seem cut and dried but if
we continue in this vein,
disclosure’s the opposite of closure
and nondisclosure’s the opposite again.

And if a misstep is a failed step
it might seem apropos
that a mischief is a failed chief
(what he failed in I don’t know).

And if being a malcontent
Is being content’s opposite
then malignant’s the opposite of ignant,
therefore, ergo, to wit.

I love the English language but
my ignant’s nearly spent
and nondisclosing into
malmisnondisgruntlement.

#317

7 thoughts on “Hapless and Gruntled

  1. I have a good friend who has a song about what it’s like to be “just chalant”. I believe the line is “With a bugger in your beard, it’s hard to be nonchalant” or something like that…
    You totally reminded me of that.

    Like

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