Me (Moth): "Time Is Nothing But an Illusion"–"Ten Years Later"

by Amber McBride
In this novel in verse, two teens take a road trip in order to learn about their pasts and find ways to move forward.

This list covers "Time Is Nothing But an Illusion"–"Ten Years Later."

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3
20 words 82 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. gallows
    an instrument from which a person is executed by hanging
    It says where the gallows were,
    its foundation sticking up from the dirt
    like a stony hand.
  2. ricochet
    spring back; spring away from an impact
    I hush
    the pain ricocheting
    in his skull.
  3. thrive
    make steady progress
    We could thrive here.
  4. mundane
    belonging to this earth or world
    Sani turns away from me
    as I pull layers of clothes
    on, strapping myself
    back into the mundane.
  5. faze
    disturb the composure of
    Moths misunderstand the Wrangler’s orb eyes.
    I find myself flinching
    as each one hits.

    Sani is unfazed
    by the cemetery on the car windshield.
  6. vibrant
    vigorous and animated
    This entire region is a crossroads
    dripping with magic—
    the sandy dirt so vibrant with spirits,
    it glitters in the sun.
  7. commune
    share or interact intimately with
    I dream that on this land older than myth
    some sort of magic communes between us.
  8. encroach
    advance beyond the usual limit
    Like keeping company with the mouths of mermaids;
    a sea burial—benthic creatures peacefully encroaching.
  9. gluttony
    habitual eating to excess
    Nobody wants to be the common clothes moth;
    its gluttony is legendary.
  10. canvas
    a heavy, closely woven fabric
    The peppered moth’s wings
    are sprinkled with dark splatters on a tan canvas.
  11. maneuver
    move skillfully, as around obstacles or into a position
    Makes me think of my aunt (Jack)
    always maneuvering around me,
    worried my shrinking might shrink her.
  12. contract
    become smaller or draw together
    The ones who are hard as stone,
    the ones who don’t expand
    & contract like a pupil
    exposed to light,
    are left to crack slowly.
  13. consistently
    in a systematic or steady manner
    I think he might take one (again),
    maybe they help like when he takes
    his white-and-blue ones (consistently)
    so that his sadness comes in steady waves
    instead of a spiraling typhoon.
  14. cicada
    stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings
    Moth: I would dance with the soil, every moment—
    everything would be my soundtrack.
    Cicada hymns & basketball thuds.
  15. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    Like Grandfather coaxing magic
    from roots.
  16. topography
    the configuration of a surface and its features
    I dream
    about you
    all the time.

    Of my hands learning
    the topography of you.
  17. eon
    an interminable period of time
    I wish I could scrub them away with my sleeve
    like I scrubbed away the lipstick
    his mom left on his cheek
    eons ago.
  18. thrum
    sound the strings of an instrument
    I say, You look different,
    buzzing, thrumming like a guitar string.
  19. mystical
    relating to communion with an ultimate reality
    Some mystical red string
    stitched up the length of my spine
    holds me in two places.
  20. unravel
    disentangle
    I don’t know how
    to unravel this magic
Created on Thu Oct 07 12:48:46 EDT 2021 (updated Wed Oct 13 10:22:46 EDT 2021)

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