Today’s (optional) prompt is to write a poem that, like “Dictionary Illustrations,” is inspired by a reference book. Locate a dictionary, thesaurus, or encyclopedia, open it at random, and consider the two pages in front of you to be your inspirational playground for the day. Maybe a strange word will catch your eye, or perhaps the mishmash of information will provide you with the germ of a poem.
Thesaurus of my laptop
A few interesting words, flash on my screen
When I leave it alone for sometime
The gravity of the words, too much at times
I pause; I refrain from touching any keys-
Dwelling over its meaning
‘Inexorable’
–adjective
‘impossible to persuade; unrelenting,’ it says
Can I be called ‘inexorable?’
Am I that difficult to persuade?
‘Convince me or be convinced,’ I recall, I often say
A series of questions, the word instigated
‘Besmirch’
–verb
‘damage someone’s reputation,’ the screen displayed
Ah! Like dishonor, damage or disgrace,
Like the rape case besmirched that politician’s name
And the match fixing besmirched that cricketer’s fate
Interesting it gets, I prolong my wait
‘Solipsism’
–noun
‘the theory that only the self exists,’ it explained
Oh really! This was quite intriguing
Curious to delve into its details, I touch the keypad,
I lost my thesaurus, but ‘solipsism’ was in my thoughts
‘I am the only mind which exists,’ a source elaborated
‘All others are merely ornaments or impediments to my happiness,’ another corroborated
Oh, that sounds condescending, I thought
But, hey, I learned three new words!
©Vandana Bhasin
24.04.2019
