Accounts Quote by Lucy Larcom
“A tattered copy of Johnson's large Dictionary was a great delight to me, on account of the specimens of English versifications which I found in the Introduction. I learned them as if they were so many poems. I used to keep this old volume close to my pillow; and I amused myself when I awoke in the morning by reciting its jingling contrasts of iambic and trochaic and dactylic metre, and thinking what a charming occupation it must be to "make up" verses.”
About This Quote
The author delights in a worn dictionary, using its poetic examples as a nightly source of creative inspiration.
In simple terms: Old dictionary fuels nightly poetic practice.
Key Takeaway
Literary objects can spark ongoing creativity.
Themes
literature
poetry
inspiration
habit
Mood
nostalgic
joyful
Type
personal
reflective
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- personal study routines
- night‑time reading
Key Concepts
ritualized learning
intertextuality
Practical Applications
- keep a favorite text nearby
- recite verses before sleep
Questions to Reflect On
- How does physical text influence imagination?
- Can digital resources replace tactile ones?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on a single source may limit exposure to broader styles.
