Polemic

So I read my rant on European politics
and, sitting down to scattered applause
he grinned wryly and said "nice polemic"
For my part I grunted something noncommittal
as wry is what he does the best
and I was unsure of the word
settling discomfited back among the crowd

That evening my dictionary brought me some relief
allowing that polemic
meant controversial argument
and not something bitter to be swallowed
(enough irony in that confusion)
Yet a compliment loses some of its luster
four hours later over Webster's Collegiate