We all know xenophobia, the fear of folk unknown;
Which makes us glance at strangers and leave them well alone.
But I'm intrigued with the 'xeno' part, originally from the Greek,
Which makes the prefix very old, positively antique.
'Xeno' means 'not belonging', 'xeno' means 'out of place';
'Xeno' means of a different and a rather suspect race.
'Xenology' is the study of an alien life-form;
'Xenotropic' is a virus that varies from the norm.
'Xenogenisis' means offspring unlike both Mum and Dad;
'Xenoreactive' ... an immune reaction, possibly quite bad.
*
Now here's the part that intrigues me.....Xeno is a name
That parents give to little boys and that really seems a shame.
'What does my name mean, Mummy?' a little chap may cry;
'I know you called me Xeno and now I'm wondering why'
'Your name, my darling' says Mummy 'Means 'different from the rest';
It means you're a sort of outcast; almost something of a pest.
It means we can't react to you as one of the family.
It means you actually don't fit in our neat little family tree'
Suddenly all his hopes are dashed! His parents are to blame
For lumbering him with 'Xeno', a very alien name.
*
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ALL SEATS ON DECK!
How's this for a Travel Agent's?
Don't you, instantly, feel
That holidays are all that counts
And Real Life isn't real?
Don't tell me you're not transported
To an Ocean liner's deck,
Away from the daily humdrum,
Where you always feel a wreck!
Oh yes! You may be waiting
For some considerable while,
Before your turn at the counter,
But you'll just lie back and smile!
You'll hear the wild waves lapping,
You'll hear the seagulls cry,
You'll sip an imaginary cocktail,
And the time will simply fly.
A neat piece of psychology,
Or so it seems to me;
So much better than a sofa!
'Two tickets, please, to the sea!'
*
11 comments:
Wow, that's quite a poem about Xeno. I once knew a man named Xeno. He was a fireman that was killed falling through the roof of a burning building. Perhaps he lived up to his name.
Yes, poor Xeno. We all want to fit in.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
we use the word xenophobia a lot. Xeno can find a friend in Xena.
I think I have a little of that Xeno.
X-mas or Christmas, which one do you approve of? May you have a prosperous new year!
You're a true Sea-loving-lady..!!!
A very inventive image to portray xenophobia!
I'm always impressed by your poetry...
great poem, and I'm always intrigued to learn more about language and words
http://jobryantnz.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/x-is-for-xanthippe/
If Xeno meant only ' different from the rest' I wouldn't mind because we are all unique, but different from the rest in a negative context would surely be hard to live with.
Now, that's really a special word !
my x is here
xeno is certainly a great prefix
ornamented joshua
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