The Gorko Gazette

Daily Humor

thegorkogazette

8.7.2025 7:00 AM

EARLY ENGLISH by J.R. Solonche

EARLY ENGLISH

Today I learned that two
of the earliest words in English
are town and priest,
and I have been wondering
what a conversation between
two of the earliest Englishmen
might have been like.
Perhaps they talked about
going to town to see the priest.
Or going to the priest to get
his blessing before going to town.
Or having the priest bless
the ground where they were going
to build a town. Or hearing the priest,
in his sermon say that the town
is a place of sin, a Sodom, and they
ought never set foot there.
In the country, one might say,
while gesturing, Town priest.
In town, one might say, while
gesturing, Priest town. And surely
many other words would have to
be invented. Words like father and
confession. Words like let’s and go
and to. Words like sorry and mate
and can’t. Words like because and I’m
and broke. Words like damn and wife.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Nominated for the National Book Award, the Eric Hoffer Book Award, and nominated three times for the Pulitzer Prize, J.R. Solonche is the author of 40 books of poetry and coauthor of another. He lives in the Hudson Valley.