Words
Words,
words, words, words,
Used by
sages, used by fools,
Used by
those who write the rules.
Used to
flatter and deceive,
Used to
make the poor believe
That
heaven is their just reward,
That
death upon the victor’s sword,
That
butchery in holy wars
Is
dying in a noble cause.
Words,
words, words, words,
Used to
chide and used to praise,
Used to
wound and to amaze,
Used to
seduce and to persuade,
Used to
make the weak afraid,
To mould
their minds, and control
The
fate of their immortal soul.
To command
them, and ensure
Obedience
to the rule of law.
Words,
words, words, words,
Used by
beggars and by kings,
Used to
give ideas new wings,
Used to
comfort and cajole,
Used to
act the tyrant’s role,
So all
conform to power’s need
To feed
the unremitting greed
Of
those contemptuous of the poor,
Forever
taking more and more.
Words,
words, words, words,
Used by
the young and by the old,
Used to
fashion and to mould.
Used by
warriors and priests,
Used to
calm life’s savage beasts
So we
can sleep though fearful nights
Dispelling
ghosts with words of light
Connecting
us with other minds
Where
we may make surprising finds.
Words,
words, words, words,
Used to
condemn and to forgive,
Used to
say who dies, and who may live,
Used to
teach and used to learn,
Used to
say who’ll crash and burn.
Yet,
the finest use I know,
Is when
words are used to show
We
value friends, and that above,
All
things on earth, we value love.
© James
Rainsford 2012
Note to readers: Posted as my contribution to the first Open Link Night of 2013 at dVerse Poets.
Kind regards and a very happy New Year to all who visit the pub this evening.
