Keen

Growing up—and this will give my age away—

It was an expression my parents used for

Something special —as in —“well, that’s sure keen”

And then you knew you had a really great thing

Got a little older and I learned you could be keen

On somebody and that meant you liked them

Or conversely, not so keen on something and of

Course that indicated you didn’t like whatever

A sharp knife or pair of scissors still are said to be

Keen-edged by some – and that is correct terminology

As is piercing and razor sharp – who knew?

Folks with keen wit are usually quite acidic or acerbic

Cutting, in other words, but in a biting, incisive fashion

Usually quite clever though, often sarcastic

Keen-eyed means very observant with clear, fine perception

Keen winds are bitter and biting and keen prices, rock-bottom

But my favourite term is the saddest and used seldom

Except in poetry or descriptive passages of real tragedy

When one is said to be ‘keening’ instead of weeping or crying

Or sobbing or wailing, somehow – keening always sounds worse.