To Bee or Not to Bee

To Bee or Not to Bee

a verse 

by

Steve Fiffer

“Spelling’s a lost art,”

It’s frequently said.

Spell-check on computers

Makes purists see red.

I have to agree

They’ve got a point when

A class full of kids

Can’t spell ESPN.

Speaking of sports

Did you recently see

The Mavs coach told a backup,

“Spell Dirk Nowitzki.”

The sub stood by the bench

Flummoxed by the test.

And as a result

The star got no rest.

Okay, that one’s false

I have to admit.

But one thing is true:

Most folks spell like sh*t.

Except for the youngsters

Who gather each year

And tackle their Websters

Without any fear.

The national Spell Bee

I always enjoy.

This year the champ was

Sukanya Roy.

Have you noticed a pattern

Emerge in these games?

It’s harder and harder to spell

Winners’ names.

I ask what would make you

More or less tense

Spelling Pratyush Buddiga

Or prospicience?

Ten years ago Pratyush

Started a trend

That looks like it may very well

Never end

“Spell pococurante,”

Said the 2003 jury.

I move that word’s simpler than

Sai R. Gunturi.

Fast forward two Junes

When the victory lap

Was taken by

Anurag Kashyap

If your number was up

Boy don’t you wish ya

Could win spelling guerdon,

Like Sameer Mishra?

This brings us to 2009’s

Winning moniker.

Try sounding this out:

Kavya Shivashankar.

I’m guessing that

Not very many of you

Know Anamika Veeramani

Won first prize, too.

Anamika Veeramani

I’m not making that up

Spelled stromuhr last year

And took home the cup.

“Is there something genetic

About spelling?” you query.

That hasn’t been proven.

I have my own theory.

The more syllables

In a contestant’s name

The more that young person

Achieves spelling fame.

By the time

Anamika writes her name’s 16^th letter

Her competitive skills can’t help but

Get better.

I hazard to say

That’s what the trick is

To conquer a puzzler

Such as cymotrichous.

That word didn’t buckle

Sukanya’s two knees

After her worthy opponent

Botched sorites.

Runner up as it happened

Was one Laura Newcombe.

Hardly a name that

Is likely to spook ‘em.

Indian Americans

Since 2002

Have won 7 of 10

What can you do?

Applaud the work ethic

Study your sheet.

Trace the word on your palm

Ask the judge to repeat.

Dream big spellers all

Fight to be a word-ninja.

But your chances are best

If your roots lie in India.