“GRUBSTREET — The name of a street near Moorsfield, London, much inhabited by writers of small histories, dictionaries, and temporary poems.”

“We seem to inhabit a universe made up of a small number of elements-particles-bits that swirl in chaotic clouds, occasionally clustering together in geometrically logical temporary configurations.”

Timothy Leary (1920–1996) American psychologist

“LEXICOGRAPHER — A writer of dictionaries, a harmless drudge.”

Samuel Johnson book A Dictionary of the English Language

“For a writer, to change languages is to write a love letter with a dictionary.”

Emil M. Cioran (1911–1995) Romanian philosopher and essayist

“When I first read the dictionary, I thought it was a long poem about everything.”

Steven Wright (1955) American actor and author

“Every poem is political. In poems not obviously political, the writer is trying to avoid something…”

Danez Smith American poet

“Veal-Fattening Pen: Small, cramped office workstations built of fabric-covered disassemblable wall partitions and inhabited by junior staff members. Named after the small preslaughter cubicles used by the cattle industry.”

Douglas Coupland (1961) Canadian novelist, short story writer, playwright, and graphic designer

“in the street of the sky night walks scattering poems”

E.E. Cummings (1894–1962) American poet

“Don’t you love the Oxford Dictionary? When I first read it, I thought it was a really really long poem about everything.”

David Bowie (1947–2016) British musician, actor, record producer and arranger

“Since then I've always thought that under rape in the dictionary it should tell the truth. It is not just forcible intercourse; rape means to inhabit and destroy everything.”

Alice Sebold book Lucky