This morning I’m thinking about words or language
and our use of such
I am reading a book, a work of fiction which is a genre I don’t read quite so often
a book that found me
which so far has me delighted
and a little enchanted
a story about books, about love and life’s complications
the language of which is lyrical and enticingly descriptive
it has willingly gathered me in
I am deep
in this
and then I come across a word that stops me in my travelling,
that instantly and rather abruptly throws me out of the story and back
into my chair
a word, that is disappointing in its
vulgarity
and I wonder why with so many other choices we stoop to such
cheap language
easy choices.. that somehow instantaneously break
the spell
the curtain falls and
there you are
I don’t as a habit use bad language, I don’t like the sound of it
in speech, in storytelling, in song lyrics, in comedy, movies, art
it is harsh, and cutting and as a lover of words it just sounds to me
like
a lazy choice
I suppose maybe it has its place, often used to make a point
in frustration
but to me it is not decorative, not sexy nor cool, not hip or especially attractive
the word (or words) I come across this morning are not even profanities,
or four letter words (although one does indeed have four letters)
they are just vulgar, distasteful, coarse
I guess it’s maybe because I do have such a love and respect for words
and those who can make the language of letters form together
in such a way, as to be
magical or meaningful and
mighty
the taste of them as they swirl on your tongue and slip soothingly
down one’s throat
easing their way into your blood stream
and dancing just under
your skin
all while remaining still in linger on the tip
of your tongue
or enchant in a way that has you wishing to wrap yourself up
in their great luxury, comfort and warmth
not necessarily big, fancy ones that are hard to pronounce
or sickly sweet dripping with honey
but real, honest and so wonderfully simple as to be recognized
from
the inside
this is not to say that by my little commentary, I am here to judge
I am by no means a prude or for that matter
a skilled linguist
really today, I am just thinking out loud
about my deep respect for words
how we use them, our fondness for some
and our choices
the weight they can hold
their power
and also
the wonderful-ness of finding
just
the
right
ones
this then, it would seem becomes
my quest ♥
“Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.”
~ Tom Stoppard