Words

This poem is unfinished -- in a way

Just from the start

I know this poem will never be finished

Because I have six favorite words

And I used to have only one

And I could just tell you what they are

But I don't want you to just look into my eyes

I want you the colors behind them

So let me try  to explain to you

All of my favorite words

I hope you can count

And I hope you'll spare the time to listen

(But if you don't

Don't worry

I'll be waiting to tell you all of them again)

I love the words Radiant 

And Endearing

And Bitter

And Ethereal

And Vindication

And  Tyro

I love the way they sound when I say them

The way they cross by my eyes

The way I could whisper them

Even if they demand to be screamed

I want to turn to you and tell you all of them

So I will

You'll hear me say them a thousand times

But you might still forget what they really mean

(If you do

Don't worry

I'll be waiting to tell you all of them again)

Do you know what a tyro is?

I can't imagine you do

It means beginner, but not begun

Novice even

The word feels like it spins the world for me

Flashes me back to times I've never lived

Because they're sealed under hardwood covers

Ones where words stream into my mind

Leaving me left dreaming

As a tyro in a place I've never been

A beginner with their story not begun

Like a story that comes from my fingers in strings

And weaves itself into thread

Becoming a word near forgotten

From the moment you turn the page

and despite what it means

The word tyro feels ancient

Like cracked ruins

With moss strewn on the inbetweens

Like the bitter

Shattered rocks

Left breaking

I like describing words as bitter

Insults thrown like stone

The bitter end

Is a shallow one to reach

With a hand grasping at a cliff's edge

Dangling off these cracking rocks

Fingers fighting for their life

Bitter eyes, words, scars 

And with a laugh

and shaking shoulders

A bitter end

All from

Falling

They're falling 

Till they're moving faster than their soul

That's ethereal

A spirit made of thoughts

The word made of whispers

It demands to be spoken in low tones

Drawn out and gentle

it's elegant

without knowing the meaning of this word I knew it was

graceful

Ethereal 

A spirit within a human's soul

Carrying a light

But not expelling it

Ethereal

soft in otherworldly tones

It's not quite human

In a way I'll leave for you to decide

I like it when you think

It makes your eyes look smoother

like polished stone

It's endearing

endearing is a more human word, I think

human

I say that

but I don't have a mirror

I can't say for certain what it means

If I had to give you my answer

I guess I'd say we're human because we break and cry and scream

but smile

and we hold each other and laugh and reminisce 

and we  feel so safe so long as we're with another

because in some screwed up way it's all ok as long as 

you're with me

human

it means that we love it when people smile

'specially if they're our favorite person

you're mine

I like it when you smile

especially when it reaches your eyes

everything about you when you're happy

it's endearing

we're human through and through

We love seeing the things that makes us so mortal

In another 

and watching their eyes light up

and feeling ourselves smile

so we found our word for it

and it's endearing

it's so endearing

to see people who are beautiful in ways they don't even know

someone who's radiant

Radiant, such a good word

because when I use it to describe someone

I'm saying they emit light

and warmth

it's more than brilliant

because brilliant means good

radiant means that you light up a dark tunnel

just by being there

and that when you hold my hand it makes me warmer

even when we're both freezing

and that when I look into your eyes

I can't help but smile

because your eyes light up mine

radiant means that you are golden

and carry all of the warmth of the sun

when I tell you you're radiant

I mean it

with every bone in my body

and I hope it'll be us in the end

I love you more than I need to be

vindicated

But, I love the feeling of vindication 

It doesn't make you  complete 

but knowing something is seeping into your bones

Is something else entirely 

Vindication is sovereign 

it carries a weight

That sense of empowerment

vindication proves something

it's like spitting fire

exhilarating, even if it burns your mouth

vindication is satisfaction with a grim and bitter edge

One I hope I haven't driven you off of

Sorry I talk so much

I just want to tell you everything in my head

Because

there's more to words than just letters

and there's things in what I write that

you might not still remember 

so I'll tell you again

(I'll tell you until you understand

that six words will never be enough to explain to you

just how much I love you)

I love the words Tyro

and Vindication

and Ethereal

and Bitter

and Endearing

and Radiant

And this poem will never be finished

And I don't know what theme I'd call it

And I don't know if it's a love poem

(Even though I do love you)

And I don't know if these words are one you wanted to hear

But I hope you know that even right now

(I don't care if you never read this again)

Just as we're standing here

(I love your eyes when you think)

You're so perfect and

You're so radiant

And you're what makes every letter of those words beautiful.

Author's Note

This poem's kinda old and I have a couple words I'd add to it now. I just haven't had the time to add the verse. Anyway, thanks for reading. (If you're wondering, one of those new words is "roguish."

Reviews

[Gideon X. A. Elson]

Wow ... I must say first bravo 👏 this poem is certainly the likes of which I have never read before. The way you describe words is endearing, with almost ethereal qualities to it. I hope this comment brings you a sense of vindication for your talent. Admitted I am but a tyro myself when it comes to poetry there is certainly something to be said of a poem that can make us feel sad, or bitter, happy, or joyous, gloomy or radiant. The written word has a way of evoking emotion and you captured some of that here.

[Casey Truax]

A great exploration of the interplay of sound and meaning. I've always felt one of the essential aspects of writing and reading poetry is the sheer love of words themselves, their sounds, rhythms, meanings, and evocations.

[Caroline B A Maguire]

That's stunning..can I use that word to describe poetry..why not ?😊.I'm only going to say that but once more...stunning... 💫