Bituminous?

by Shel Silverstein (1930-1999)

The hard coal's called bituminous,
Or is that anthracite?
Stalactites grow down from caves,
Or do I mean stalagmites?
Those fluffy clouds are nimbus --
No -- wait -- they might be cumulus.
And that kid who was raised by wolves --
Was he Remus -- or Romulus?
The brothauruses ate no meat.
Does that mean they're carnivorous?
Or were they brontosauruses
And were they herbivorous?
A camel is a pachyderm --
Or do I mean a dromedary?
Is this match inflammable?
I thought it was incendiary.
Octagons -- no hexagons --
No, heptagons have seven sides.
And don't spray fruit with pesticides --
Or do I mean insecticides?
If I can see right through a thing,
Is it transparent -- or translucent?
These are just some of the things
I find confusing -- or confuscent.