A DIY ABC (Unpub)

Abel’s up in the air. Sluggish out o’ the box.
Lax when after the fox – unlike NFL ______.  
 
Cadogan’s earn’d our contempt. Always down in the dumps.
Can’t get passed the speed bumps -- loath to taking his ______.  
 
Efrem’s over his ears; grazes outside the fence;
months behind with his rents. Isn’t worth your two ______. 
 
Gheorghie’s up to no good; shuns the top of the heap;
won't look after his sheep --. all who read of him ______.   
 
Ijoe skates on thin ice. Never’s in on the joke.
Pig -- within his own poke. Someone fix him: he's ______.    
_
Klem spends life on his knees. Too far out on a limb.
Giving in to each whim. Buster Blue-Sky: that's ______.    
 
Mnemo’s lacking a map. Won't abandon the nest.
Last one in on a jest. Mnemo! Give it a ______.  
 
Ophat’s down (some say "out"); well beyond the perim-;
at, or nearing, his lim-:  the whole gang feels for _____.   
                                                            
Qur keeps on the QT. Rarely’s off to the races.
Can’t keep up the pace. ‘Tis the saddest of ______.  
    
Steve lives under a spell. Always over the top.
Self esteem…? Not one drop. Even fails as a ______.
 
Uve’s down the "up" stair. Doesn’t lower his voice.
Options…? None that are choice. (In brief, not very ______.
    
Waxman’s kept under wraps. He is sans the "X" factor.
Toss’d under the tractor.(His wife…? Fiends bush-) ______.
 
Yazmin’s "back o’ the yards." Too far out o’ the zone.
Well beyond reach by phone. (Hey, ya’ll! Throw Yaz a ______.