The Toonacular Store




          hidden away

          on a dead-end street

          of Manhattan

          is

          the Toonacular Store

          where I went                                   

          the other day

          needing some words                           

          for a comic strip

          I was drawing




          “whatta ya have?”

          quacked the duck

          behind the counter




          “well,” said I,

          “I could use some              

          PLOPS

          and I think

          aome SPLATS too.

          some ZAPS

          some ZIPS

          KERPLUNKS

          BLOOPS

          a WHOOSH

          a BAM

          two BOOMS

          three SLURPS

          four WHOOPS

          and a WACK

          a WHA!?

          a KAZOOM

          maybe some POWS

          and an OOPS!

          if you have one”




          “and while you’re at it

          see if you have any grawlixes”




                                                                                                                                                                                

         “well,” he said,

         “we have

          &#%@&%!s “

           and we have

          @%?&#@!s

          which will it be?”




          gee, they pretty

          much sound the same 

          to me”




          “hump!,” he sneered

           arrogantly,,                         

          looking at me over his

          half-moon specs,

          “if you were

          a true connoisseur

          you would be able

          to tell the difference”

 

          in the shop

          surrounded by props

          instant holes, neck hooks

          rubber banana peels

          Undeadly bombs

          knock-out drops

          triple Xed whiskey bottles

          exploding cigars

          doors that open to nowhere

          flat red hearts

          floating in space

          plus a big stuffed 

          ominously smiling

          pink bunny

          it was no surprise

          to find my change

          given in funny money




          XXX




          pepe nero