My life's limited
by the power of the words
I firmly edit.
Fear paralyzes
an already timid tongue,
seeking the right words.
An uncareful word
banishes without mercy
despite my wishes.
Unspoken words bind
tender thoughts that do not dare
to reveal themselves.
Befriended words build
stories that touch other's True
and soothe my sore soul.
Song Choice: Brave by Sarah Bareilles
This poem is linked up to Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads, Tuesday Platform and Poets United Poetry Pantry 417.
Featuring poetic beats, lyrical storytelling, and other assorted jazz.
I wonder who is the god of proper word choice, Apollo? Athena? Hermes? Chalchiuhtlicue? A different one for every sense of rightness we yearn for. Wonderful title!
ReplyDeleteI tend to be fond of Benzaiten. Thanks Brendan!
DeleteI love the lines:
ReplyDelete'Befriended words build
stories that touch other's True
and soothe my sore soul.'
I rather like those too. :)
DeleteWords can be a comfort in lost times..you convey that brilliantly
ReplyDeleteWe can also lose ourselves in words, if we are not careful. The Word Forest is lovely, dark, and deep---and sometimes dangerous.
DeleteThanks Jae!
DeleteOh yes Magical Mystery Teacher - it's both lovely and dangerous and worth exploring.
DeleteGosh this is so poignant and heartfelt! As poets we do tend to be in constant search of the right words to convey our ideas and emotions 💖
ReplyDeleteThanks Sanaa!
DeleteLovely! This bit is so evocative: "Unspoken words bind/tender thoughts that do not dare/to reveal themselves".
ReplyDelete-HA
Glad you enjoyed it :)
DeleteWords to have a certain power to break or sooth. You have captured that perfectly here Rommy!
ReplyDeleteYay! Thanks Carrie
DeleteLoved each word here, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it Vicki
DeleteLet 'em fly. There's no tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWoot!
DeleteMercy? We don't need no stinkin' mercy! Um... sorry, got overexcited there.
ReplyDeleteI love this chain so much, the structure, what it says about writing (and living), everything... The second stanza made me nod a lot.
The structure started out as an experiment, but I was glad I attempted it.
DeleteThen it is not only the words but the oration when sincerity must be seen and felt. Beautifully written Rommy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin!
Delete"Fear paralyzes
ReplyDeletean already timid tongue,
seeking the right words."
A iconic stanza that well-represents every poet's fear.
Love the alliteration in it, too.
The poignancy with which you describe the vulnerability of approaching the act of writing strikes home. The raw honesty of the struggle! Beautiful!
The alliteration was a delightful bit of serendipity in writing.
DeleteYes, who is the God of words? I'm afraid too often I have trouble editing when I should. Beautiful writing
ReplyDeleteEditing is a dragon anyone engaged in writing must eventually confront.
DeleteI love the befriended words that touch each other's True.
ReplyDeleteThat bit made me smile
DeleteThis felt so familiar--the ruthless internal editing and the soothing of the rawness left by allowing the words to come back. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it resonated
DeleteLife penetrates every aspect of living. Even to the poet there is the editing_separating sheep from goat
ReplyDeleteHappy you dropped by my Sunday Standard today
Much🌻love
Thanks Gillena
DeleteMuch food for thought here! Intrigued by the first stanza. I think we all edit our words a bit...not a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteNo, certainly not a bad thing at all! I've written some silly things that were better used as fertilizer for better words to grow.
DeleteI so relate to this piece. You have articulated the 'word' quagmire-of-rethink beautifully, here.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy!
DeleteI see it in the same light as Wendy does. I love how you manage to convey a tentativeness ... and I love the notion of befriended words. May all your words befriend you!
ReplyDeleteAs may yours as well!
DeleteI wonder if all poets feel this way? Searching for the befriended word--love this piece!
ReplyDeleteThanks Audrey!
Delete