Three Poems with Captivating Vocabulary

It is usually in my moments of deepest isolation, feeling desperate for some sort of connection that I turn to poetry. A thoughtful poet takes their beating heart and drops it on the page. And a remarkable poet makes you feel like you are there with them, watching the blankness soak in everything until it becomes a story. When starved for something that feels absolutely real, it is often clever, exciting vocabulary that pulls me in.

If you are shy to admit that new vocabulary humbles you, then don’t worry, I’ll do it for you! Ever since elementary school, I was terrified of missing a word on a vocab test. I made this (entirely unattainable) goal of reading the whole English dictionary. (I only got through about 300 of the A’s). And ever since, the truth that there are plenty of English words which I still have never encountered has always kept me on my toes.

But as a writer and life-long reader, I came to understand that learning new words and ways of using them is an undeniable part of reality. Now, I am most often eager to learn new vocabulary. It can broaden our understanding of the world, how other people see and experience it. And it also encourages us to engage with the writing on a deeper level as we familiarize ourselves with the words.

So, if you are looking for something that gets those gears turning and encourages you to engage with the scene wholly, here are three poems with captivating vocabulary.

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A Case of Copacetic Nevers by The Dani Writer

The Dani Writer is truly a word smith, offering us delightful descriptions to digest.

“Biochemical” has become a word that most often resurrects ghosts of my failed chem labs past. I was astonished how intimate this word became in A Case of Copacetic Nevers. Paired with the usage of “alchemy”, these words concoct a story of personal power within this vulnerable metamorphosis of being.

The union of “weep/regulate/excrete/curse” continues to shape this cycle of metamorphosis. This word combination is a fine example of how captivating vocabulary can teach us new ways of using words. Presenting these four words with uniquely symbolized pauses, which can almost meld the words together (depending on your interpretation), encourages us to engage with the writing on a deeper level. The rhythm built with the slashes between the emotionally saturated words paints an experience akin to a ceremonious practice: every stage is significant.

The Dani Writer has a gift of presenting art with so many layers that I uncover new meaning with each read-through.

“extrication” = the act of freeing a trapped or entangled person or thing

In this poem, “extrication” introduces the potential of duality. Is the subject being extricated? Or are the impurities being extricated from the subject? Both? We could conjecture the true meaning behind the use of this word, but equally noteworthy is the very fact that this single word can wholly engage us.

For me, the most profound, gives-me-goosebumps line is: “as I glimpse the end products of alchemy that mirror”.

Thanks to The Dani Writer for immersing us within this emotional emergence through captivating words!

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Folk Tales & Night Drives by Silver Serpent Books

Silver Serpent Books brings a feverish and eerie scene to life through captivating vocabulary in Folk Tales & Night Drives.

There are abundant beguiling words to consider in this poem. Firstly, the use of “ambrosia”, “eldritch”, and “sanguine” expertly forms an otherworldly atmosphere. Similarly, “voracious”, “horrors”, and “gnawing” empower the essence of creaturely transfiguration.

While this poem is brimming with thoughtfully curated, unique words, I was also enthralled by the repetition of the word “human” and colors like “black”, “red”, and “white”. The presence of these words encourages us to consider the unexpected complexity of their meaning while the subject and surrounding scenery transforms.

The most stunning line in this poem for me is: “Of the demon driver coaxing a human body of metal”.

Thanks to Silver Serpent Books for transporting us into this fervid folk tale with captivating words!

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Deafening Soliloquy by Cindy Calder

In this acrostic, Cindy Calder crafts a striking story of silence. Most captivating about the vocabulary is how it enriches the meaning of silence itself. “Nullify,” “numbing”, “muted”, “dissociation”, and “demise”, all exemplify, in their own distinct ways, the ample impact of silence.

Particularly, “deafening” plays an integral role in prompting us to see or hear silence differently. We can engage with the poem thoroughly by asking: “How can silence be deafening?”

My favorite and astoundingly aesthetic line in this poem is: “Endless provocation of mindlessness.”

Thanks to Cindy Calder for inspiring us to reimagine the complexities of silence through captivating words!

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And if you're eager to start a conversation about these captivating stories or show these poets some appreciation for their dedication to the craft, I encourage you to do so in their comments, not mine:)

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Hello, again, wanderer!

If you found this post entertaining and want to read something like it, you may want to check out my newest lyrical deep dive of City on a Hill by Mon Rovîa:

xoxo,

for now,

-your friend lost in thought