Behooves

Behooves is such a crotchy old word

Said by white haired men over their reading glasses

Whispered by sliver hair women with their hair in a bun

“It would behoove you, young man!”

“Young lady it would behoove you…”

It would behoove you 1st year students…”

The word conjures up a dusty room

With spider webs in the corners

A pen & quill dipped in black ink

Parchment at the ready

A word that a barrister or a banker would use

Written in a legal brief

Or used in a financial posting

“It would behoove the defendant…”

“It would behoove the loan department…”

“It would behoove, behoove, behoove…”

Such a stodgy old word

Today without much meaning

Except to those who use it

(One of my late father's favorite words!)