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