In 2013 Lexmilian de Mello utilized Wordswarm.net‘s random words pages as inspiration in writing Percarus, a free form volume of what the author describes as “diary styled poetry”. Mr. de Mello is “intrigued by the diminishing energy resources within this world. Equipped with four post graduate degrees ranging from engineering,business and sciences he aspires towards three goals alone; eudaimonia, ataraxia and abolishment of evil.”
I was happy to hear someone had made use of the wordswarm.net random words pages in the spirit they were intended. Writing prompts — in which a question or scenario is posed — are a common way to get people writing but I prefer the simplicity of raw words. I seldom post to this category any more but my Pick a Word postings were all based on words chosen from the Wordswarm.net pages. I posted more frequently to What’s the Word?, but the content management system I used to publish it threw up, making it complicated and bothersome to import it into WordPress.
My output of word-prompted essays beeth* not close to the realm of Percarus, which seems to comprise the substance and experiences of an entire lifetime. (*”Beeth” is what the author describes as a “semi-made up word which frequently appears in this volume). I’ve read a good portion of the book and find it engaging, if at times overwhelming. I intend to spend more time with it. It is gratifying to see obscure words that wordswarm.net brings to light being used in a legitimate and inspired manner.
Being informed of this book’s existence reminded me of another instance in which something may have been inspired by wordswarm.net. I was surprised at the resemblance between the random words pages and a wall at the Museum of Modern Art which I spotted last year. I don’t think I’d take offense if it was proven that the design of that wall was influenced by my hideously 1995-vintage pages, but the resemblance is hard to deny, as de Mello agreed when I presented it to him.
Pecarus was originally published as freeware but now it is distributed as donationware. Grab your PDF copy from bookbuster.com.
