Words

words like silver shadows follow us
in travels gone and travels never taken
slow, and moving words that leave us
speechless, timeless, frozen on our lips

stained and faint in whispers
caresses never said out loud
words, like undiscovered rivers
still flow with purpose in the heart

with tricks and secrets
words have me waiting, yelling
spelling every letter back and forth
spinning with their bluntness
tripping, slipping into the cracks of if's and but's

i'm sinning, words, with your persuasion
my lips pressed shut, and hands over my ears
direct in my direction with your measures
and pleasures when the sound appears

clear and cloudy where i bathe
in syllables and similes corrupted
even forgetful minds can never un-forget
the volumes of my pleadings interrupted

words, you are a river long
your currents had me sinking with defiance
i will say nothing, and nothing will be wrong
forgive me, but what i choose is silence