How Many Words

by Denryu

in Completed Works

How Many Words

There are over 600,000 words in the English language.
How many of them do I need to talk with you?

Between what needs to be said
and what can’t be said
There’s not a lot of breathing room.
--sometimes there’s none at all—

How many words do I need to tell you
we’re just going through the motions.
If you started packing your bags one day
there wouldn’t be much interference.

It’s been a decade since we understood love.
Having sex is like eating a stale saltine—
the basic taste is still there but
it’s so bland you’re not sure you really want it.

How many words do I need to tell you
I’m tired of being polite.
It never gets us anywhere.
Maybe in another thirty years
When I’m an old woman with cats
and you’re an old man who throws shoes
we’ll finally be able to have a conversation.
> 'Wish You Were Here' by Denryu

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Sep 30th 2008
Tags:
denryu free free verse general human human nature many nature open poetry society verse words words writing
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Amazing, isn't it? More than 600 THOUSAND words in the English language, (not including unclassified scientific terminology) and people STILL can't seem to communicate properly.

I've been thinking lately that so many of my poems have to do with this theme--that we have the technical ability, and we DEFINITELY have enough words to say anything, but we still can't make ourselves use the right words at the right times.

Well I guess it just goes to show you that human beings are fickle and weird.

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