A few summers ago when I was the only writing tutor working the ASU Polytechnic Writing Center, I got the idea to make some magnetic poetry words. I tried to gather all the best ones I could find. One of the wonderful things about using magnetic poetry is that you can come up with some truly astonishing lines that you never would have thought of otherwise. It becomes easy because you are choosing from a list or collection, rather than trying to pull something out of the air.
When I took poetry classes, I used this technique to help me generate ideas. I always had my computer's thesaurus widget and I always kept an online rhyming dictionary open because it was easier composing from a list of possibilities than to create out of nothing. Sometimes I would even go online searching for word lists of smells, shapes, tastes, and textures. Anything to give me a list to choose from. Dictionaries are fabulous lists of possibilities.
And now, without further ado, here is a lovely list of words that you can print out and make your own magnetic poetry out of. I've included a fabulous list of delicious nouns, verbs, adjectives, as well as the less exciting but just as necessary propositions, pronouns, articles, word fragments, conjunctions, and other useful words.
Nouns - din nub gild veil roil fire ebb eye sea god lair love gall mint junk luck love ring kiss skin gaze mate sun rose song gift glass fever light guile dove shard cheek honey throat finger nectar music pepper depth rhythm heart bully acumen scholar ennui sugar fantasy flame animals balance angel beauty faction vanilla melody moon paragon wave platitude beach domicile cloud paradigm voice paradise squid harmony hunger maggot synergy symbol missive passion evening diamond chocolate cinnamon ambrosia hurricane resonance sillhouette admonition miscreant
Verbs - was is be are were zip wry die ram rip run cry race sail skip yell arid deft burn ache spin trot leap soak weld wild soar ogle swat sing bolt drop rush hiss hum peep sigh snap eye jerk wine red ruby gold edge lift lope plod soar dart dash dive bend drag drift sway buzz hurl drive flick usurp patter rustle swish tinkle bleat chime faint gurgle gallop hurry creep droop propel loiter collide litter slouch stray clink crackle twitter giggle suffer waste spring sprint desire adore cuddle flicker create choke stride streak cherish stash swoop amble canter crawl saunter slink spurn eschew festoon delve devour haunt drench touch entwine linger heave lumber sneak stagger tiptoe waddle careen chase smash speed swerve swing dazzle smear groan guffaw plummet whisk scramble stalk murmur speak laugh scream weep snooze musical mutter slather secrete ponder stagger gossip smuggle lapse expunge tantalize laugh explore caress delight respose whisper bounce scamper shove escape worship combine stutter senses counsel blend converge rectify implore trudge question chisel squeeze lament alleviate abscond languish appease shimmer
enervate stammer endeavor submerge
caterwaul ameliorate vicissitude
Adjectives - shy wet jet icy sky worn old sad raw oily dry bold dark hurt dark dull drab blue ripe cold plum raw cool mad used dead sure worn near aqua navy thin rust sour warm pithy droll tinge silky lilac waxy sorry fiery fishy royal salty spicy fluid lime torpid empty rigid azure furry valid banal crass warm sweet fresh colors coral beige moist celery olive green acrid pearl snow white silver fuzzy gritty ivory sharp clear dingy sheer bitter tough milky steel sandy hairy cobalt crisp damp tawny black musty piney amber crisp lonely loved limpid turgid untidy proud marble bland mellow mute tepid glazed satiny sticky prickly putrid earthy tangy topaz grimy brown ebony ochre young happy lemon angry yellow canary dismal dotted garnet muddy rotted strong eternal careful gentle striped crimson fearful envious hostile mottled shabby flashy flowery absurd guilty coffee ecstatic glossy almond sandy textures elastic spongy woolly smells velvety rotten verbose tender luscious hazel inaudible briny cunning emotions - thick turquoise violet copper nutmeg metallic flavors pungent buttery leathery mushy smooth spotted opaque glowing puzzled excited orange anxious bashful curious cardinal sulpher savory platinum bumpy peacock bronze rubbery freckled surreal blotched bright rancid magenta glassy mulberry shiny sanguine purple mustard scented reeking jealous emerald walnut lavender fragile sapphire fleshy buttercup slippery steamy licorice gingery cream hopeful sounds tangerine nuanced delicious alienated annoyed cautious apathetic obscure helpless wrinkled relieved satisfied shocked negative paranoid peaceful regretful confident vermillion lukewarm nefarious profligate interested disgusted sparkling magnetic optimistic miserable frustrated surprised hysterical innocent thoughtful undecided withdrawn frightened iridescent patterned humiliated suspicious bittersweet mahogany exhausted depressed aggressive aggravated determined magnificent butterscotch aquamarine disappointed discouraged enthusiastic embarrassed mischievous appearance - love-struck shimmering translucent transparent psychedelic
Prepositions - for in of off on as at but by per to up via inside into like near onto over past plus save than until upon down from with along amid anti about above across after unlike versus around before behind below aboard during outside minus without within against among beyond despite through toward towards under between round regarding since besides beside opposite except beneath following excluding excepting underneath concerning considering
Pronouns - I it me he us we all its her his few any she one who you ours hers this each him they them mine that more both each other what many most much none some whom other these those which yours whose theirs himself itself others anyone either anything myself neither another herself nobody nothing several yourself anybody
whoever
ourselves
everyone someone whatever something everything whomever whichever somebody everybody
yourselves
themselves
one another
no one
Articles –
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
a an the
Word
fragments –
y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re y d s o ed re es er ne ly ing es er ne ly ing es er ne ly ing es er ne ly ing es er ne ly ing es er ne ly ing es er ne ly ing es er ne ly ing es er ne ly ing es er ne ly ing es er ne ly ing ism est ist non
ism est ist non ism est ist non ism est ist non ism est ist non ism est ist non ism est ist non tion tion tion
tion tion tion
tion tion tion
tion tion tion
tion tion tion
tion tion tion
tion tion tion
tion tion tion
tion tion tion
tion tion tion
conjuntions - since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and since but and or or or or
or or or or
or or or or
or or or or
or or or or
or or or or
other words –
if too how who then what only than must soon when which could would almost should
if too how who if too how who if too how who if too how who if too how who if too how who if too how who if too how who
then what only then what only then what only then what only then what only then what only then what only
than must than must than must than must than must than must than must than must than must than must than must than must
soon when soon when soon when soon when soon when soon when soon when soon when which could which could which could which could which could which could which could which could
would almost would almost would almost would almost would almost would almost would almost would almost would almost
should
should
should
should
should
should
should
should
should
should
Extra pronouns
me he us I it me he us I it me he us I it me he us I it me he us I it me he us I it me he us I it me he us I it me he us I it me he us I it me he us I it we all its her we all its her we all its her we all its her we all its her we all its her we all its her we all its her we all its her we all its her his few any she his few any she his few any she his few any she his few any she his few any she his few any she his few any she his few any she his few any she his few any she one who you one who you one who you one who you one who you one who you one who you one who you one who you one who you ours hers this ours hers this ours hers this ours hers this ours hers this ours hers this ours hers this ours hers this each him they each him they each him they each him they each him they each him they each him they each him they each him they each him they them mine that them mine that them mine that them mine that them mine that them mine that them mine that them mine that more both each more both each more both each more both each more both each more both each more both each more both each more both each more both each other other other other other other other other
