Yesterday, my daughter and I were talking, and she exclaimed: “Jeez Louise!” It made me laugh…and then curious. What is the genesis of this exclamation? And, that my friends, is proof of poetry alive in the every day…Looks like I’m calling the poems about words/language ‘Language Arts’…We’ll see how many I can write over the year!
Language Arts II – Jeez Louise
Who is this patron saint of surprise?
This sherpa of sighs?
This head-shaking, hip-handling, female of flabberghast?
This slang-angel of good griefing
She is a euphe-mystic exasperation incantation
relieving blasphemy from the chronic cussers of 1930s
vivacious vernacular
Poor girl – eternally exasperated and shocked
bug-eyed and bleary…
Think of her when you next exclaim her
– she’ll be startled by your honour
Have a wonderful Saturday!
VANESSA SHIELDS 