Homoioptoton

Homoioptoton (ho-mee-op-to’-ton): The repetition of similar case endings in adjacent words or in words in parallel position.

Note: Since this figure only works with inflected languages, it has often been conflated with homoioteleuton and (at least in English) has sometimes become equivalent to simple rhyme: “To no avail, I ate a snail.”

I was growing old. I looked like I was growing mold. I was purple, red, yellow and navy blue. Navy blue was the dominant color. I shimmered like a peacock’s tail, to no avail. That’s all I did.

I was 87 and I didn’t care whether I did anything at all. Then, one day I was taking a wheelchair ride down my driveway and a Rolls Royce pulled up. It was Gnome Chompsy, the billionaire entrepreneur,

He got out of his limo with a guy in a uniform holding the door. I just sat there slack-jawed almost in shock. “”What can he possibly want with me?” I thought. Basically, I was stunned that he had pulled up here in front of my house.

He said, “I’m starting a freak show. Your peacock skin qualifies you as a legitimate freak. Your colorful freakishness will complement the other freaks nicely, especially the Kool Aide Kid, who you will partner with.. He’s a single strawberry color and translucent. You can sit behind him and between the two of you make a beautiful display that people will pay to see.” I told him I could make my colors swirl when I pooped. He said we could discuss that later.

The only sticking point, that almost killed the deal, was what to do with my wheelchair pusher. She was super conscientious and had been pushing me around for the past five years. We went together like clouds and bad weather. Shelly would be a deal- breaker if she wasn’t allowed to roll me along in my new life.

Gnome capitulated on the condition that she wear Michael Jackson gloves and a metallic gold bikini when we performed. Shelly was in great shape and didn’t mind showing it off. She readily agreed, and the deal was cut. We worked Shelly into our routine. I would sit behind the Kool Aide Kid while Shelly go-go danced in a cage suspended above my head. She featured the Rolling Stones’ music catalogue with her favorite being “Honky Tonk Woman.”

We became the “Top Freaks Trio” in “Gnome’s Traveling Freak Show.” We traveled around the world to Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia. We made a documentary movie titled “True Colors” and eventually Shelly and I got married. We have five children. Only one has my gift. We call him “Swirly” because he can make his colors swirl without pooping. He’s part of the show and replaced the Kool Aide Kid when he died a couple of years ago. One of our daughters has taken Shelly’s place in the go-go cage. I’m looking forward to retiring soon. Our son will take my place with wheelchair tricks, with his “special” son behind him. All in the family!

Being a freak among freaks has its ups and downs, like the time a wheel fell off my wheelchair. I was able to spin on one wheel as Shelly let go and we brought the curtain down with me spinning. Shelly quickly replaced the wheel behind the curtain. When we raised the curtain again, we got a standing ovation. We integrated the one wheel spin into the act and the rest is history.

Everybody has a special gift. Find yours, and find your niche.