Premium Only Content

"The Dark Château" by Clark Ashton Smith
Tons of good vocabulary packed into this poem!
Acherontic: dark and dismal (as of the river Acheron in Hades)
attar: a fragrant essential oil (as from rose petals)
oriel: a large bay window projecting from a wall and supported by a corbel or bracket
gules: the heraldric term for red
verdure: the greenness of growing vegetation; health and vigor
oleander: a poisonous evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) of the dogbane family with clusters of fragrant white to red flowers
hoar: this word has several definitions that could fit the bill here, so you can pick whichever one tickles your fancy the most: frosty; ancient; no longer interesting or meaningful due to repetition over time
seneschal: the steward or major-domo of a medieval great house
coigne: given the association with 'niche', we're probably looking at the meaning of "a projecting corner", but it could also mean "the keystone of an arch", or " the external corner of a building; especially any of the large, squared stones by which the corner of a building is marked", or any wedgelike piece of stone. Anyways, you get the idea.
jambart (or jambeau): a greave, i.e. a piece of armour worn to protect the shin from the ankle to the knee
lampadephore: torch bearer. Or I suppose in this case, lamp bearer.
limn: the draw or paint on a surface. Or possible: to outline in clear sharp detail. Not entirely clear which definition fits better.
The picture used is "The Dark Chateau" (1919) by Leslie Moffat Ward. Frankly it reminds me strongly of "The Fall of the House of Usher", but it'll have to do for here.
To follow along: http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/poetry/113/the-dark-chateau
-
1:22:01
Sean Unpaved
4 hours agoMNF Madness, CFB Week 7 Rewind, & MLB's ALCS & NLCS Playoff Fire!
14.1K -
1:02:05
DeVory Darkins
2 hours ago $28.61 earnedTrump drops NIGHTMARE News on Democrats as the Violent protestors gear up
94.8K33 -
1:59:08
The Charlie Kirk Show
2 hours agoCharlie’s 32nd Birthday + Medal of Freedom | Sec. Bessent, Lavorgna, Zeldin, Sen. Lee | 10.14.25
74.6K81 -
LIVE
StoneMountain64
1 hour agoBattlefield 6 Sniping and Unlocking SNIPERS from LONG RANGE
78 watching -
Side Scrollers Podcast
3 hours agoHasan CAUGHT Red Handed + Hogwarts Legacy 2 “Boycott” + Arbys SUED + More | Side Scrollers
21.6K1 -
1:08:02
Timcast
3 hours agoTrump DOJ DEFIES THE COURTS, Tear Gasses Anti Ice Rioters, Civil War Fears Escalate
124K136 -
LIVE
Viss
5 hours ago🔴LIVE - Give Us The Battlefield 6 Battle Royale! - BF6 & PUBG
83 watching -
19:37
Welker Farms
17 days ago $0.06 earnedTraining Up the NEXT Generation of Farmers - Faith, Family, & Farming!
2.71K2 -
2:29:00
Steven Crowder
5 hours agoTrump is Winning so Big Even The Left Can't Deny It: Featuring Jason Calacanis of the All In Podcast
351K403 -
56:22
TheAlecLaceShow
3 hours agoTrump Signs Historic Peace Deal | Hostages Released | Guests: Matt Schlapp | The Alec Lace Show
14.1K