Express, baggage and all...

Let It Be Said

You wait

...breathless

...with bated breath

...breathing one breath

and then another, and again...

– take your pick.

How does one wait for

words doled out one-at-a-time?

Did you think they'd flash

the page to illuminate your mind

without you having to learn

the fine art of patience

and silent revery?

Ask your friends for words. 

Let each present you with

one word, and only one.

Let it start with

the iconic measure 

of the person's name.

Let their word be a gift

and not a game. Let it be said,

and, for the pleasure,

read, and re-read.

Let yourself marry

the word's meaning to the person

and their experience of you.

Let their word find you bereft

and in dire need of it. Take it

in like food. Let it stick

– a tender golden toffee –

to the roof of your mouth.

Savour it slowly.

Let it fill the space

each person claims

with the sunny taste

of gladness.

When tears of gratitude

well up, cherish the liquid form

their words have taken.

If you find yourself laughing,

be aware that each word,

popping like popcorn

in the sealed chambers 

of your heart, bursts

forth unfurling

its truth.

Let their words scroll,

a priceless papyrus

of archaic wisdoms

reverently incanted;

or, as worry beads, roll

between anxious fingers,

worn smooth as whispered 

devotions oft repeated.

Let the sounds announce

a New World, the words,

concise mnemonics

for all you had forgotten

and needed to remember.

Let each word – as distinct

as the one who gave it –

welcome you back 

to humanity's fold.