Poem - Give or Take

  My college dictionary from 1971 -  Photo and Poem by Rita Bourland © 2012

Give or Take

By some estimates, there are 250,000 words

In the English language,

Give or take,

Plus we add new words every day

Due to our ability to create, expand,

And change language to suit our needs,

Amazing that we often choose the easy words,

The hurtful, debasing, lambasting words,

When thoughtful, insightful words

Might ease the way to something more,

A dictionary holds the words,

Flipping through the pages,

One finds words to fit every occasion,

Exhilarating, uplifting, expansive words,

Compassionate, caring, loving words,

Intelligent, questioning, rational words,

No need to succumb to the first words

that come to mind

When better words,

Clearer words,

Kinder words,

Are there to use,

Our words define who we are,

And what we believe,

With 250,000 words

Give or take,

We can be wise, reflective and inoffensive

All at the same time,

And still have a few words left over,

Give or take.