Words.

In a world of communication- of books, newspapers, blogs, social media, text messages, television, labels, logos, signs, we are surrounded by words.

Words are fascinating in their own right: did you know the most frequently used letter in the English language is the letter 'e'?

The word Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is 45 letters long, and is a 'lung disease caused by the inhalation of silica or quartz dust.' I won't even attempt to try saying that one! But I bet there are a hundred medics out there who can just let it trip confidently over their tongue.

The most spoken language in the world is English, followed by Mandarin Chinese, then Hindi, and then Spanish.

But, enough of these facts. Words aren't just labels and information. Words are power; they are feelings; they are expression; they are things that can torture us just as we are about to fall asleep. Words can lift up someone else. Words can destroy a gentle soul. Words can give life to a friend in despair. Words. More than letters. More than text. Words are everything. And everywhere.

I hope you enjoy my poem.

Words

A mother tongue

Learned and mastered from infancy.

Words.

'Hello!'

'Yes'. 'No'. 'Why?'

'Please.'

Nouns, determiners, definite articles,

Pronouns, verbs, adjectives,

Adverbs, gerunds, prepositions.

Yes, they are, but what are words?

Words are moments,

Of praise, of song, of hurt.

They are internal dialogue,

Reliving that thing I should have said,

Shouldn't have said.

Torturing me

Like some demented

Flickering movie.

Words

Are power.

To build someone up,

To encourage, to celebrate,

Promote, empathise.

Words are expression

Of my feelings,

My worries,

My needs and my thoughts.

Words are weapons.

They can cut down

A moment of joy

In the sunshine.

Leaving you rendered

Powerless and desperate.

In the secret shadows of self-doubt,

Ugliness and fear.

But words are medicine.

Soothing blessings of

Reassurance.

Kind words can replenish

The hollowed-out

Empty spaces

Left open by

Cruel and careless retorts,

Opinions and mindless voices.

Words are everything.

Thank you very much for keeping with me! Please feel free to share, and to read some of my other pieces.

Deborah.