There's something about word play that is so annoying. Why is it? The world may never know. But here's the thing: I can write a short essay here covering the exact same topic as my before written poem and you will take me a lot more seriously now because my sentences don't rhyme.
Why is it that we hate word play so much? Generally, we as people like to feel smart. We read newspapers, we listen to NPR, and we discuss politics with our friends. We try to speak in complete sentences and use vocabulary which marks us as learned But why don't we like word play? By word play, I am not only referring to puns, but any kind of rhetoric which is crafted to either rhyme or otherwise alert the brain that something has been cleverly done. Rhyming is a big part of word play too. Word play, by definition then, is something cleverly constructed before being uttered or written. If we as people like to feel smart, shouldn't we embrace those who employ such tactics? You would think so, but you'd be wrong.
So why do we hate it? If you haven't figured out by now, I don't know. Otherwise, why would I keep asking? Rhyming is especially interesting because it is acceptable in some forms, but not in others. For example, rhymes such as those found in a Dr. Seuss book are regarded as childish and playful, whereas rhymes found in a rap song are anything but childish and playful. It is acceptable to rhyme in music, but if one were to speak in rhyme, listeners would certainly find it annoying and contrived. As for puns: well, people just generally hate puns.
Upon reflection, why do we hate word play? I don't know. Philosophically speaking, one who undertakes to speak in such a manner should be regarded as a lyrical genius, the cleverist (I know that's not a word) of the clever. Will it ever change? Probably not. Should we care? Probably not. But if someone suggests you make a tree and leaf, do not judge them. Puns are jokes too.
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