“Their words, their stanzas, may be far-fetched; we may find strange things in them. But we are made to feel that the emotion behind those words is a true one.”
-Jorge Luis Borges
For J. L. Borges
Lullaby, hullabaloo,
fandango, frisbee, and kazoo!
Addis Ababa, Walla Walla,
hoedown, flapjacks, hoot and holler.
One if by land, thar she blows!
Jumpin’ jimminey, Geronimo!
Heads-up, stiff upper lip,
if they’re loose, they sink the ship.
Holy moley, holy cow,
Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou?
Testy, touchy, cross, and cranky…
wallow, snivel, pass the hanky.
Gherkins, salami, proscuitto, gnocchi,
Pontchetrain, Atchafalaya, Okefenokee.
Zesty, zippy, energized
iris, vermillion, sunset skies.
Joy, bliss, revelry…
to set words free, our destiny.
Shiver, challenge, rhythm, beat,
feel the vibe, script your feet.
Pen, page, word, proclaim…
living, creative, never the same.
Let it loose, go with the heart.
Taste them, touch them, words are art
that swoops and startles
that gleams and laughs
with ripples deep as glory
with trailing scarves,
diaphanous and suggesting.
The well-trained tongue gives shape
to the stories of
the image and likeness
of God.
It lifts words from the page
where they are
sparking
with delight,
reaching
to become.
©MperiodPress
