I’m a big fan of collective nouns.
A crash of rhinos. A murder of crows. A stand of flamingos. A conspiracy of ravens. A prickle of porcupines.
Years ago, I came up with a few of my own collective nouns:
A gamble of poker players
A fumble of left-handers
A fistful of bullies
A concern of mothers
An argument of attorneys
A frustration of golfers
Writer and teacher Kathy Fish recently wrote a poem using collective nouns that I adore. It’s filled with humor, joy, inspiration, and heartache, all captured in what amounts to a list.
I’m also a fan of lists. I wrote an entire novel in list form.
This poem really hit my sweet spot.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
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Collective Nouns for Humans in the Wild
A group of grandmothers is a tapestry. A group of toddlers, a jubilance (see also: a bewailing). A group of librarians is an enlightenment. A group of visual artists is a bioluminescence. A group of short story writers is a Flannery. A group of musicians is — a band.
A resplendence of poets.
A beacon of scientists.
A raft of social workers.
A group of first responders is a valiance. A group of peaceful protestors is a dream. A group of special education teachers is a transcendence. A group of neonatal ICU nurses is a divinity. A group of hospice workers, a grace.
Humans in the wild, gathered and feeling good, previously an exhilaration, now: a target.
A target of concert-goers.
A target of movie-goers.
A target of dancers.
A group of schoolchildren is a target.
– Kathy Fish
