I love them.
If you’ve been reading this blog for Any Time At All, then perhaps you already know that.
I keep lists of them, you know. I make lists when I am reading something that uses words well. Sometimes I write them down because I don’t (yet) know what they mean; sometimes I write them down because, this time, I’ve noticed them and I like how they sound.
Words make wonderful sounds, don’t you think so?
The other day I came across this list, made while reading Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson’s brilliant first novel. I did not know all the words’ definitions when I was reading the book, but I do now.
Do yourself a favor, and read the list aloud:
insouciant
glyph
suppurated
interpenetrating
slish
moil
quotidian
inhere
fecundity
diaspora
carapace
miscible
incipient
reliquary
fenestration
Wasn’t that great? Now, do yourself another favor: look up the definitions of the words you don’t know. This will Expand Your Mind.
My friend Stephanie has just started a blog, and on it she posts some of her poetry. There is Nothing In The World for words like poetry. I think, in fact, that the chicken and the egg question was first asked about words and poetry, but people’s natural impatience with deciphering meaning coupled with their preference for poultry resulted in the “chicken and the egg” question becoming the better known of the two.
Don’t believe me? Which do you think it’s easier to sell: A dozen eggs, or a book of poems? And which do you think happens more frequently: a chicken lays an egg, or a publisher deems a manuscript of poetry worthy of the paper, ink and binding expense to publish it?
Honestly.
Anyway, Stephanie is writing poetry. So if you Like Words At All (and oh, I hope you do), then do yourself a third favor, and visit this site.
All these favors you’re doing yourself! Aren’t you haven’t a great day?!
