Self-portrait of the writer as a dictionary
artist, n. pl - a community of believers who know that there is room for improvement in this world
blue, adj. - thinking about dreams too long
canker sore, n. - the past, the way it keeps cropping back up, the way it always hurts
domino effect, phr. - the volley of insults that fly until the whole city’s burned down
epidermis, n. - a defense against the knife
family, n. - the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. people always forget that last part.
give, v. - counterattack to the breaking glass
heterozygous, adj. - your father’s eyes our mother’s way with words
irony, n. - a technique often used in Greek tragedy in which the audience knows the significance of events in a character’s mess of a life
jasmine, n. - a smell that haunts the dreams, lingers on the fingertips, causes vivid recollection
karma, n. - hope
live, v. - a choice, day in, day out
meaning, n. - the stories we tell ourselves. the forces that drive us
need, n. - for reassurance, constancy, constancy, constancy
omnipresent, adj. - the fear of forgetting. but forgetting what?
puddle, n. - when she yells
quiver, v. - removal from the earth
race, v. - to the finish, to the end, to whatever comes next
shake, v. - the edge of believability
test, v. - boundaries, faith, limits, again again again
understand, v. - heart, gut. nothing else.
vivid, adj. - b-roll rejection
words, n. - method of expression, often futile
x-ray, n. - sticks and stones may break my bones but words leave deep psychological wounds that may never heal
yellow, adj. - daffodils, dreams that blind
zodiac, n. - arbitrary possibility; possibility nevertheless
second draft
Self-portrait of the writer as a dictionary
artist, n. pl - a community of believers who know that there is room for improvement in this world
blue, adj. - dreamers’ sleep
canker sore, n. - the way the past keeps cropping back up, the way it always hurts
domino effect, phr. - the volley of insults that fly until the whole city’s burned down
epidermis, n. - a defense against the knife
family, n. - the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. people always forget that last part.
give, v. - counterattack to the breaking glass
heterozygous, adj. - your father’s eyes; your mother’s way with words
irony, n. - a technique often used in Greek tragedy in which the audience knows the significance of events in a character’s mess of a life
jasmine, n. - a smell that haunts the dreams, lingers on the fingertips, causes vivid recollection
karma, n. - hope
live, v. - a choice, day in, day out
meaning, n. - the stories we tell ourselves. the forces that drive us
need, n. - for reassurance, constancy, constancy, constancy
omnipresent, adj. - the fear of forgetting. but forgetting what?
ponder, v. - horrible immensities
quiver, v. - removal from the earth
race, v. - to the finish, to the end, to whatever comes next
shake, v. - the edge of believability
test, v. - boundaries, faith, limits, again again again
understand, v. - heart, gut.
vivid, adj. - b-roll rejection
words, n. - method of expression, often futile
x-ray, n. - sticks and stones may break my bones but words leave deep psychological wounds that may never heal
yellow, adj. - daffodils, dreams that blind
zodiac, n. - arbitrary possibility; possibility nevertheless