The Power of Words

It takes a miracle

to produce a word.

The human mind and body

must work together in harmony

to find the truth in a sound.

The thought moves freely

like a fish through a net

into the mouth and throat

with lungs and jaw and tongue

working stealthily to cross the threshold

of the enlightened and luminous lips.

The callous brain of an adult

thinks nothing of their language.

A simple “good morning!” or “more please”

when the coffee arrives hot

and vital to waking up
are results of years of training

for the average American mind.

There is no room for “Buenos dias”

or “buongiorno” for us.  That door is closed

like a border during war time.

We’d rather go on and on and on

without a second thought

about nothing
in English.

It is as simple as A, B, C.

Even a baby rambling on to her mother

with joyful expectation of breakfast

and banging her spoon on the tray of her highchair

knows the power of “Mama” by the smile she evokes

and the power of “NO! No! no!”