Explore "Speech Economy" by Ring Lardner on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Since he began to talk and sing, / I've learned one interesting thing --
The value of a verb is small; / In fact, it has no worth at all.
Why waste the breath required to say, / "While toddling through the park today, / I saw a bird up in a tree,"
When "Twee, pahk, birt," does splendidly?
Why should one say, "Please pass the bread,"
When "Ba-ba me" is easier said?
And why "I'm starved. Have supper quick,"
When "lunch! " yelled loudly, does the trick?
Why "I've been riding on a train,"
When "Bye-bye, Choo-choo" makes it plain?
"Let words be few," the poet saith, / So leave out words and save your breath.