Poems written by a dictionary (Patreon)

A couple years before writing the first words of the first episode of Night Vale, I had an idea for a series of poems written by the dictionary. I would take a single word and then do my best to form its definition into poetry. The word itself would be obscured, and would have to be inferred from the poem.

The date on this file is April 27, 2010, the Tuesday after my 24th birthday. I was sitting at work at a prepaid debit card company, with a word document open, ready to minimize the window if my boss happened to walk by. And with my help, the dictionary wrote these poems.

-Joseph Fink

(    )

the pure color of a clear sky.

a wavelength between 450 and 500 nm.

any of several butterflies of the family Lycaenidae.

discolored by cold, contusion, fear,  vascular collapse.

stemming from rigid morals or religion.

holding or offering little hope.

marked by blasphemy.

the remote distance.

the sea.

the sky.

(   )

I

a stir in the atmosphere.

a light breeze.

overhead space.

II

the peculiar look, appearance, bearing of a person.

manifestation of pride or vanity.

assumed haughtiness.

III

affected or unnatural manner.

a tune.

the soprano part.

breath.

(    )

to become lower.

in volume, tone, or pitch.

in amount, extent, or intensity.

to cause to fall, drop, descend,

penetrate, dig, bore, excavate

lower, depress, drop, suppress,

ignore, omit, depress, bore,

to cause to fall.

            (money)

to lose               in an unfortunate investment, enterprise, etc.

a low-lying, poorly drained area where waters collect.

a basin with a drainage system.

a cesspool or a pool for industrial wastes.

for sewage or waste.

a drain or sewer.

a place of vice or corruption.

bring to utter ruin or collapse.

depress. bore. ignore. omit.

invest in the hope of making a profit or gaining some other return

a drain or sewer.

an unfortunate investment, enterprise.

etc.

(     )

a sudden light blow or tap,

as with a whip or the finger,

or the sound made by such.

a light and rapid movement,

or the sound made by such,

as with a whip or the finger.

something thrown off with,

or as if with,

a jerk.

a motion picture.