Literally

 Literally this is what’s going on as we speak.

Mechanicals have answered their mobiles.

They are working on the props between smokos.

Fairies consort with some fairly ordinary royals.

Whatever’s in that drink it’s messing with their minds.

We don’t mind if we do, say they. They’re on.

Like, literally, how can something so wrong

Feel so right and why does everyone around

Laugh at the wrong moments? That should be so right.

Literally it’s already later as we speak these words.

The plot’s forgot, the director’s gone home.

They dream through habitations all their own.

Literally, who has space for this emotion

That is so much yes, only to turn out no?

Late

 

Ask, how many ways are there to be late?

Late, late for a very important date.

Paws-and-whiskers late, horse-has-bolted late.

It’s already started so put on your skates.

Fashionably late is the fashion plate.

Inebriates mark one more on the slate.

Copulate, populate, congratulate.

Circulate, miscalculate, contemplate.

Vies the belief that it’s never too late

(Late in time, offspring of a virgin’s wait)

With fate’s it’s-later-than-you-think late.

The late great, the late lamented, always late.

She’ll-be-late-for-her-own-funeral late.

Accumulate to de-accumulate.

Les

You could contrive a meandering sonnet,

Broach the third level of meaning with ease -

Once main lines are coursing and images breeze.

You were in it, around, beyond, upon it.

Sceptical of cities, their noble prizes,

Bush slows out detail close, and daily talk.

Going home again was the ideal walk

Across the veranda of word surprises.

Mosaic is catholic and sensate,

Words pieced to make it it-and-a-bit.

Either it happens for them or it’s nothing.

Old English remains the source of something.

Middle English too called the spirit wit.

You asked: now how many ways do we say mate?