Poetry Slam!: "A Noiseless Patient Spider" by Walt Whitman

The speaker of this poem observes a spider using its silk to explore its surroundings and then compares his soul to the title arachnid. Read the full text of the poem here.
15 words 1953 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. patient
    enduring trying circumstances with even temper
    A noiseless patient spider,
    I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated
  2. promontory
    a natural elevation
    A noiseless patient spider,
    I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated
  3. isolated
    remote and separate physically or socially
    A noiseless patient spider,
    I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated
  4. vacant
    not containing anyone or anything; unfilled or unoccupied
    Mark’d how to explore the vacant vast surrounding
  5. vast
    unusually great in size or amount or extent or scope
    Mark’d how to explore the vacant vast surrounding
  6. launch
    propel with force
    It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
    Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.
  7. filament
    a threadlike structure
    It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
    Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.
  8. tireless
    characterized by sustained hard work and perseverance
    It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
    Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.
  9. detached
    being or feeling set or kept apart from others
    And you O my soul where you stand,
    Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space
  10. ceaseless
    uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
    Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them
  11. muse
    reflect deeply on a subject
    Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them
  12. venture
    proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
    Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them
  13. sphere
    a particular aspect of life or activity
    Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them
  14. ductile
    capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
    Till the bridge you will need be form’d, till the ductile anchor hold
  15. gossamer
    characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy
    Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.
Created on Wed Feb 06 12:59:58 EST 2013 (updated Fri Jun 23 13:53:41 EDT 2023)

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