Photo credit: Shane Leonard
I could tell you that I saw a flock of birds, and you would probably have some idea of what I meant. You could imagine the feathers and wings, perhaps even hear their song as they flew past. But the picture would differ to some extent for everyone reading this — how could you know if I had seen robins, or seagulls, or geese? Or, if I wanted you to imagine birds, I could tell you I saw an exaltation of larks, and those would be words to conjure with. They are perfectly, gloriously descriptive. It’s a phrase that gives a sense of lift, of flight, of joy...